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September 2002
Monday, September 30, 2002
Arrest warrant against cricketer-turned-BJP MP Kirti Azad
A Darbhanga court has issued a warrant against cricketer-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Kirti Azad for ransacking a local electricity board office. First Class Judicial Magistrate Jitendra Mishra issued the warrant against Azad, who represents Darbhanga [in Bihar] in the Lok Sabha and resides in Delhi. Azad has been charged with forcibly entering the office of the general manager of the Mithilanchal Electricity Board on May 23, 2001 and ransacking it. He was also accused of misbehaving with an engineer of the electricity department. The court also issued an arrest warrant against Darbhanga BJP president Sanjay Sarawagi and five other BJP leaders for ignoring court summons.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Danush ready for induction
New Delhi Sept. 29. After the success of the surface-to-surface missile Prithvi, and Agni, Indian scientists have achieved another major breakthrough by successful completion of trials of the country's first-ever sea-to-surface missile, Danush, paving the way for its induction into the Navy. ``The Naval version of the Prithvi missile, christened Danush, is ready for induction after successful trials at sea,'' said V. K. Atre, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, hinting that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was also close to achieving success with the country's first-ever anti-tank missile, Nag.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Third round to determine J&K poll outcome
The outcome of the third round of polling in the 16 Assembly constituencies in South Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Pulwama, for which the campaigning ended today, is most likely to have a decisive influence in determining the end result of the elections. The campaigning in these segments has been as hectic as it has been bloody. Several far flung areas like, Noorabad, Shopian, Pahalgam and Tral are known to have a strong militant presence. That explains the unusually high level of pre-poll violence in South Kashmir. It would, however, have to be seen as to what extent and in which particular segments this spectre of violence is going to affect the voters turnout. For sure, poll boycott is likely to be fairly pronounced in some of the constituencies. The political battle has been at its hottest in this area, as the stakes are very high for both, the ruling National Conference (NC) and its principal challenger, PDP. The former has its credibility to defend while the latter has its future on the line. It has been a no-holds-barred campaign on both sides. That the NC leadership apparently threw in all it could to bolster its campaign in the last stages of electioneering underlines the significance of the polling due to be held on October 1. It is a do-or die situation for the NC which is assessed to have fared rather poorly in the first two rounds of polling. The PDP, on the other hand, seems to be on the prowl and is poised to go for the kill. That an undercurrent is in its favour is evident on the ground. The PDP’s prospects would eventually be determined by the level of voter turnout. Larger the turnout, greater would be its chances of humbling the ruling party. South Kashmir has emerged as PDP’s strong hold, at the expense of the NC. Significantly, the PDP has made inroads into those pockets also which till recently used to be the strongholds of Jammat-e-Islami and other separatist groups. Although the Congress is also in the fray there are hardly any signs of its ability to capture a seat or two out of the 16 being contested. CPI-M candidate MY Tarigami a sitting MLA is contesting from Kulgam constituency which he had won in the 1996 poll with NC’s support. Two interesting contests are likely to take place in Pahalgam and Anantnag constituencies. PDP’s star campaigner Mehbooba Mufti is pitted against NC’s Rafi Ahmed Mir in Pahalgam while Dr Mehboob Beg is facing a surrendered militant Liaquat Ali in Anantnag. The rivals are staking their prestige in these segments. adds: The army shot dead five intruders sneaking into India from Pakistan to foil the democratic process. While three militants were killed in Baramulla in a gun- battle, two were shot dead in Kupwara. A large cache of weapons and explosives were recovered from them indicating the ultras had planned major strikes to disrupt polls, a defence spokesman said in Srinagar. Candidates made last ditch efforts to woo voters in Kathua and Udhampur districts in Jammu while Anantnag and Pulwama districts in the valley which witnessed large scale violence in the run up to the polls saw a low key capmpaign on the last day. Just two days ahead of the polls, Anantnag town wore a deserted look bereft of the usual poll fever with posters and banners bearing mute testimony to the upcoming election. National conference President Omar Abdullah and state Congress chief Ghulam Nabi Azad were making last ditch efforts to appeal to the 16.69 strong electorate, while most other candidates undertook door-to-door canvassing in majority of places under tight security cover. The focus of third phase of election would be on militant violence as Anantnag and Pulwama are considered strongholds of Lashker-e-taiba, Jaish-e-mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits and have served as transit points for militants crossing from Kashmir into Jammu region and back. Repoll in 9 polling booths ordered in J&K SRINAGAR, Sept 29 (UNI) Authorities have finalised all necessary arrangements for repoll in nine polling booths in Jammu, Poonch and Badgam districts in Jammu and Kashmir where polling was held on September 24 in the third phase. Official sources told UNI that Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and other necessary poll material have already been despatched to these polling stations. They said adequate number of security forces would be deployed in and around the polling booths to provide secure atmosphere to voters, contesting candidates and poll officials. The repoll was ordered following allegations of rigging and booth capturing. The repoll in two booths ''A and B'' in Badgam assembly constituency in Central Kashmir was ordered following allegations of booth capturing. In Gandhi Nagar constituency, repolling has been ordered in one polling booth 108-A after complaints of rigging. In Surankote, repoll in three polling booths --32-Taranwali,32-A Taranwali and 32-B Taranwali -- was necessitated as poll officials could not reach their booths becauase of militant violence. The repoll in three booths in Mendhar assembly segment -- 13-Maidan, 27-Kalaban(C) and 66 Gursai-G has been ordered following allegations of malpractices and booth capturing. Polling in these booths will be held from 7 am to 4 pm on October 1.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Top UK company to transfer 1,000 jobs to India
British insurance giant Prudential plans to cut almost 1,000 jobs and transfer them to India during the next two years as a cost-saving measure, the British union Amicus said late Sunday. It said the plans, which the company is to announce on Tuesday, envisage the loss of 950 jobs at a call centre in Reading, in southern England, which will then be transfered to Mumbai. Amicus said staff at the Reading call centre, which employs around 3,500 people, have already been informed of the plan. Prudential refused to confirm or deny the Amicus statement. Amicus said that since 2001 and including this latest plan, Prudential will have shed more than 5,000 jobs in Britain, taking the total workforce to about 4,000 by 2004, a cut of over 55 percent in a three year period. Prudential's decision to take the jobs to India is based on an 80 percent reduction in salaries from those paid in Britain. "The industry will be watching the transfer with interest and with over 185,000 financial services call centre jobs in the UK any significant move to transfer these jobs overseas will have a drastic impact on the UK's economy," Amicus said in its statement.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Don't compare me with Urmila, says -Antara
Actress on the Road ahead of her in Bollywood. Your career in Hindi films has developed rather gradually from bits-and-pieces roles to a leading lady. Did you, at any point of time, think of going in for a conventional launch as most heroines do? No, not at all. I strongly believe that one can’t plan one’s career. One should grasp an understanding of the direction in which things are moving and then leave it at that. I never nursed the ambition of being launched like a conventional heroine instead, I picked up films which I liked and here I am. The way you have been presented in Road is being compared with how Urmila was presented in Rangeela. Is there a similarity? It would be grossly unfair to make the comparison. What is even more surprising is that people have been talking about this for a long time even before anybody had seen Road. I guess people just need to talk about something. I leave it to people to see Road and then appreciate what I am talking about. A supporting role in Anjali, a Telugu film, Company, Road most of your films have been with Ram Gopal Varma. What is so special about his style of working? One thing which Ramu does is accord a lot of space to his actors. He is like a counsellor who offers advice and guidance but once one is in front of the camera, he leaves you to fight your own battle. You have recently signed up for Main Madhuri Dixit Bannaa Chahti Hoon. I am really excited about this new project. And the best part is that Rajpal Yadav plays the lead opposite me in the film. Chandan Arora, who edits Ram Gopal Varma’s films, makes his directorial debut with this movie. Beyond acting, what else do you enjoy? I enjoy travelling. A major part of Road has been shot outdoors in Rajasthan. I had a great time there. While I have travelled extensively in south India, I have been in Delhi twice. On both occasions, it was to promote Road. One thing I hate is going to a beach they all look the same to me!
Monday, September 30, 2002
Don't compare me with Urmila, says -Antara
Actress on the Road ahead of her in Bollywood. Your career in Hindi films has developed rather gradually from bits-and-pieces roles to a leading lady. Did you, at any point of time, think of going in for a conventional launch as most heroines do? No, not at all. I strongly believe that one can’t plan one’s career. One should grasp an understanding of the direction in which things are moving and then leave it at that. I never nursed the ambition of being launched like a conventional heroine instead, I picked up films which I liked and here I am. The way you have been presented in Road is being compared with how Urmila was presented in Rangeela. Is there a similarity? It would be grossly unfair to make the comparison. What is even more surprising is that people have been talking about this for a long time even before anybody had seen Road. I guess people just need to talk about something. I leave it to people to see Road and then appreciate what I am talking about. A supporting role in Anjali, a Telugu film, Company, Road most of your films have been with Ram Gopal Varma. What is so special about his style of working? One thing which Ramu does is accord a lot of space to his actors. He is like a counsellor who offers advice and guidance but once one is in front of the camera, he leaves you to fight your own battle. You have recently signed up for Main Madhuri Dixit Bannaa Chahti Hoon. I am really excited about this new project. And the best part is that Rajpal Yadav plays the lead opposite me in the film. Chandan Arora, who edits Ram Gopal Varma’s films, makes his directorial debut with this movie. Beyond acting, what else do you enjoy? I enjoy travelling. A major part of Road has been shot outdoors in Rajasthan. I had a great time there. While I have travelled extensively in south India, I have been in Delhi twice. On both occasions, it was to promote Road. One thing I hate is going to a beach they all look the same to me!
Monday, September 30, 2002
You can get married to a person for a 100 reasons but you fall in love for only one reason -Salman Khan
Salman Khan is making headlines again. Last weekend, the film industry was buzzing with news of a showdown between Salman and Shah Rukh on the sets of the latter’s just launched film being directed by Aziz Mirza. At Film City, on the sets of Sunil Manchanda’s Tere Naam, Salman broke his silence. Excerpts from the conversation: The writer-director of the Hollywood-Bollywood film Marigold, Willard Carroll has said that he zeroed in on you not just because you have a great screen-presence but also because you speak English with a particular western accent. (Looking amused) He liked my accent? He did. And what did you like about his film? The first clause in my contract was that Asians in the film would be treated with a lot of respect. Willard loves India and he has watched a lot of Hindi movies. I think that he will be able to portray India and Asian culture the way it should be portrayed. Earlier too, I’d got a lot of offers from Hollywood but I wasn’t tempted because most of these films make us look like idiots. Marigold is a romantic musical comedy. Reportedly, you have been collaborating on the script for nine months and many of your suggestions have been incorporated. Yeah, I have been pretty much involved with the project. I’ve always wanted to make a musical. We don’t make very many musicals. Talking of music, Tere Naam, we’re told, also has a to-rave-about score by Himesh Reshammiya. It’s the most amazing track of the year and in the years to come. After a long time you have songs with lyrical value. The film itself is really amazing. It has all the different shadesaction, music, romance and comedy. And an emotional climax that’ll have people walking out of the theatres really moved. Tere Naam has been made earlier in Tamil and Kannada as Sethu and in Telugu too.Have you seen any of these South Indian versions. No, I haven’t. There are a 100 ways to interpret a character and I want to interpret this character my way. In real life love doesn’t exist. The word is need. If you need someone and the need is reciprocated it’s called love. But if you are madly in love with someone and the other person is not mad about you, you can kill yourself, and it still won’t matter to the other person because there is no need -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So you accepted the film because the character appealed to you? (Smiling) I accepted Tere Naam because I had no work. No, seriously, when the plot was narrated to me I quite liked it. Sunil Manchanda, the producer, is a friend and it’s been good fun working with him. And what is it like being directed by Satish Kaushik? (Chuckling) Satish Kaushik, apna Pappu Pager? He’s very sweet! I love working with him. The film’s not a musical though, is it? No, it’s a very beautiful love story. But I wouldn’t want something like this to happen to anyone. The last 15 minutes are really heart-wrenching. You’ll see another side to this boy who’s become almost an untouchable. It made me very sad! Why? Why? Well, because this guy, Radhey feels straight from the heart. He wants to do the right thing but is misunderstood by everyone, including the girl he loves. And ends up destroying his family and losing his friends. Eventually, though everyone realises his worth. Even the girl falls in love with him. But may be, by then it’s too late. Love conquers hate, breaks down all opposition despite being misunderstood. You’re misunderstood too. (Sarcastically) No, people understand me just fine, especially the press. Does the Tere Naam I-could-die-for-you kind of love exist in real life? In real life love doesn’t exist. The word is need. If you need someone and the need is reciprocated it’s called love. But if you are madly in love with someone and the other person is not mad about you, it can make you madder but that too won’t make her love you. You can jump off the cliff, kill yourself, and it still won’t matter to the other person because there is no need. Even the love a mother feels for her child is rooted in need. The need to protect someone born of your blood! But sometimes this need can become obsessive and self-destructive as it happened with Devdas. I don’t think there was any conflict in Devdas. Devdas was a total loser. Even the person who’d written the novel (Sarat Chandra Chattopadhay) admitted that he had destroyed a whole generation with his story. Devdas’s love was not love in the true sense. Love means having the power to break down all opposition and winning over the girl, as Radhey does in Tere Naam. I’ve not seen Devdas but those who have have told me it was beautifully shot, that everyone wore amazing clothes but it didn’t make them cry. It didn’t bring tears which means no one cared what happened to Devdas, Paro and Chandramukhi. Love should touch you... Which film, according to you, is a real love story? In the romantic genre a film that made me cry was...(Thinks long and hard only to have his thoughts interrupted by Sunil Manchanda who quips, Tere Naam!) Yeah, Tere Naam. That’s a love story that will touch you. The film is in the genre of Ek Dujje Ke Liye, Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Many people thought that Sameer, the character you played in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, should have got the girl, not her husband. I had a problem initially with Sanjay (director Sanjay Bhansali) over this. He had told me that he wanted the film to end on a high. I asked him if he wanted a happy high or a depressive high. He wanted the latter. I pointed out to him that if he wanted a traditional film he should forget about love. But if he was making a love story then he had to break with tradition because love is above all that. You can get married to a person for a 100 reasons but you fall in love for only one reason. When two people who don’t even know each other, are complete strangers like Sameer and Nandini, fall in love it just happens. It’s karma! Had I made the film I’d have ended it differently. I was never the first choice for Devdas but I was the last to know that I was not doing the film. Sanjay says he took Ash because she was going through her own personal problems and looked the character. I have no problems, so he didn’t take me -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There were talks that you were Sanjay Bhansali’s first choice for Devdas. I was never the first choice for Devdas but I was certainly the last person to know that I was not doing the film. I made two films with Sanjay Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. May be by the time he started work on Devdas he had outgrown me and wanted someone better. He says he took Ash because she was going through her own personal problems and looked the character. He must have taken Shah Rukh and Madhuri for the same reasons. I have no problems, so he didn’t take me. Your last two films Yeh Hai Jalwa and Tumko Naa Bhool Paayenge didn’t do very well. Where did they go wrong? Jalwa was an above average film. All the distributors made money. It was only the producer who suffered because he had a problem selling the film. The market is down and he had to compromise on the price. Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge was an amazing film but it didn’t do well. Today you don’t know what’s going to work. The stupidest films are doing good business and sensitive films have no takers. I’ve been in this business for 14-15 years and I still don’t know how it works even though I come from a writer’s family and have a certain amount of script sense. Fortunately, I have a pretty good track record. I’ve made about 80-85 films and only 9-10 have not done well. The story of Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge was penned by you. Was the script to blame for the film’s non-success? Yes, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge was written by me, and I have to admit that may be it was slightly ahead of its time. It was good cinema...well shot. It was well conceived but perhaps it was not projected right. People didn’t understand the meaning and rejected the film. I think we slipped because the character was shown first as a Hindu and then as a Muslim... You obviously feel very strongly about the communal issue. Why has it become such a burning problem? Greed, that’s the reason. And illiteracy. Nowhere do Hindus and Muslims have problems living together. It is the politicians who bring up the communal issue with the people. Obviously religion has never been a problem with your family. No, it hasn’t. My father (Salim Khan) is a Muslim, a Pathan. My mother (Salma) is a Hindu, a Maratha and a Rajput. They got married 40 years ago and even then religion was not a problem. My grandparents were only opposed to the match because he was in films and they were worried about whether my father could take care of their daughter. He did. They had me, my brothers and my sister. Religion was never a question at home. My mother still visits temples...she also prays the namaaz. My father has had a mandir built in the house. My other mother (Helen) is a Catholic. No, religion was never a problem with our family. What did you think of Sohail’s film that also tried to bridge religious differences? I thought Maine Dil Tujhko Diya was a good film. Sohail was handling the responsibilities of a writer, producer and director and acting in the film too. And I think he did a great job. The film’s done well. Sohail’s been accepted as a hero which was what we wanted all along. Apparently, you refused the part because you thought you were too old for the part? Yeah, I thought I was five years too old. Sohail on the contrary, looked the character. And we all wanted him to play Ajay because even when he was narrating the story we could see how much he was into the character. After so many years in showbiz what is the secret of your eternal youth? (Smiling) I’m God’s favourite child. He’s my co-pilot! No one’s offering me films anymore. They say they’re scared of me. I have to correct myself. It’s high time I did that. Everyone gets angry but where I’m concerned, things get blown out of all proportion. Stories are fabricated because no one bothers to crosscheck facts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever thought of directing a film? When the theatres are totally empty, when my film releases to 10-20 per cent collections and I know my career as an actor is over, that’s when I’ll get into direction (Smiles). You still have a long way to go as an actor but Tere Naam is one of the few films you’re doing. Why have you cut down so drastically on your work? (Sarcastically) No one’s offering me films anymore. They say they’re scared of me. I have to correct myself. It’s high time I did that. Today’s afternoon paper in Mumbai carried a report of how you threw a temper tantrum on the sets of Shah Rukh Khan’s film in Malshet. What’s your version? I don’t need to explain anything! It’s my personal life. Even if I were to say I’m the best person on planet Earth and I don’t do things like these, would it change people’s perception of me? It might. Hey, if you want to know the kind of guy I am, talk to my family, my friends and the people who work with me. Everyone gets angry but where I’m concerned, things get blown out of all proportion. Stories are fabricated because no one bothers to crosscheck facts. People are scared of you. Not scared, petrified! (Sneers) If people were scared of me they wouldn’t write such things. On this very set there are at least a 100 people who are stronger than me. My producer, Sunil Manchanda who’s sitting right next to me, could grab my neck and squeeze and that would be the end of Salman Khan. So why should people worry about me and my explosive temper? You’re saying there’s no truth in these rumours? No, I’m not saying there’s no smoke without fire. I don’t know why it happens but there have been times when I behave erratically. But the only one I hurt at such times is myself. I bang my head...bash up my car... That’s being masochistic? When I’m hurt the anger builds up inside me and to let it out I end up hurting myself. I punch the wall...bang my head against it... What about the rumours of you hitting Aishwarya? I’ve never raised a hand on her. Not ever! And you didn’t strip and make a public exhibition of yourself? What is stripping? Even in my films I’m bare bodied. Only minutes ago, I was roaming around without my shirt and no one objected. No one accused me of being an exhibitionist. That’s the way I am and if removing my shirt in public is against the law, then let someone come and arrest me for indecent behaviour. So what really happened in Pune? (Glowers) I went to this stupid dhaba which was 40 miles from God knows where. It’s a wonder how anybody could find the place...But why am I bothering with explanations? You guys are not going to believe me no matter what I say. So I won’t say anything! You can write what you want. It’s only a story for you. The people who’re important to me know who I am and how I am. So there’s no point in justifying my behaviour. Everybody has fights. The biggest stars fight. Things get blown up. But no one is hurt professionally. I’m being targeted because I don’t bend. I don’t break. I don’t cater to anyone’s needs. And there’s nothing anyone hates more than not to be needed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You owe an explanation to your fans? My fans love me no matter what’s written about me. You can ask any guy or girl who’s growing up if that’s true. Check out the gyms. They’re all full because I’ve inspired youngsters to take care of themselves. And your family, how do they react to such stories about you? They react very badly...they’re upset and hurt. And I’m to blame for that! I’m being targeted because I don’t bend. I don’t break. I don’t suck up to people. Whether it’s a successful producer or a journalist I don’t entertain anyone. I don’t cater to their needs. And there’s nothing anyone hates more than not to be needed. The care-a-damn attitude has earned you the reputation of a brat. People call it arrogance but I call it self-respect. I’m not openly disrespectful to anyone If someone older comes into the room I immediately stand up. I’ve been taught to be respectful. But what happens if the other person is not deserving of my respect? If he provokes me unnecessarily? I may take it 10...12..100 times. And then I’ll tell him to back off. That’s the rudest thing I’ve said. You’ve admitted just a while ago that you want to change, grow into a better person? (Thoughtfully) May be I should change. I will change if my family is at stake. Actually you’re changing everyday. Growing older...growing up. And the process never stops... The stories persist however. There’s a girl involved now. Her parents are involved. Her reputation is involved. That’s why I’ve chosen to remain silent. I’ve not spoken before and I won’t speak now... Even if your behaviour affects her career adversely? Everybody has fights. The biggest stars fight. Things get blown up. But no one is hurt professionally. Nothing is going to affect her career. It didn’t affect mine, did it?
Monday, September 30, 2002
Indo-US joint army exercises begin at Alaska
As part of the growing Indo-US defence co-operation, the armies of the two countries began joint exercises in Alaska Sunday. In the two-week long exercises, named "Geronimo Thrust", Indian Parachute Brigade personnel and IL-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force(IAF) are taking part with troops from the Para Infantry Regiment of the US Army Alaska, C-130 aircraft and Chinook helicopters of the US Pacific Air Force. An Army spokesman said the exercises were aimed to test airborne infantry with a view to attain synergy for achieving interoperability. Troops from the two countries had conducted joint training exercises at Agra in May this year, named "Balance Iroquois". The Indo-US defence co-operation has been increasing ever since the two countries joined the global coalition against terrorism late last year. UNI
Monday, September 30, 2002
Salman case - injured still in hospital
Of the five injured by Salman Khan’s car, two were discharged from Bhabha Hospital on Saturday morning after treating abrasions on their legs. Two are still admitted in the male orthopaedic ward with serious leg injuries while the fifth man was declared dead before admission. The injured were identified as Abdul Rouf Shaikh (22), Muslin Shaikh (17) who is admitted and will be operated soon, Kalim Pathan (25) and Manu Khan (29, discharged). The deceased was identified as Noora Behra (38). Abdul Rouf Shaikh cleans utensils at A1-Bakery. Speaking from his hospital bed, he said, I went to sleep on the pavement outside the laundry at 12.30 am. I woke up when bricks started falling on me after a loud thud. I could not move my leg and my body was in pain. I opened my eyes next in the hospital, I don’t know what happened, because it happened when I was asleep. Mohammed Abdul Shaikh, his relative, said Rouf hailed from Uttar Pradesh (UP) and was the sole breadwinner for a family of five. Abdul had arrived two days ago from UP for a job at the bakery that Rouf had promised him. Bandal Shaikh, a worker at the bakery, said that people have slept outside the laundry for 11 years now with no untoward incident. He said, We heard it was Salman Khan who was driving, but it makes no difference. The damage is already done. Speaking on behalf of the 25 employees of the bakery, he said, We don’t know what the future line of action will be. Our employer will decide what is to be done. Doctors attached to the hospital said on condition of anonymity that Salman was brought to the casualty ward at 12.20 pm by the police for 10 minutes. The police memo insisted only on a medical checkup. A blood test sampling was not stated. He seemed fit and his blood pressure was normal. There were abrasions on his left wrist which Salman apparently said was due to the accident. Salman reportedly refused to take a tetanus injection. This was confirmed by Medical Superintendent Dr Seema Malik. A little later, the doctors at the hospital heard that Salman would be brought again, this time for his blood sample. Though Bhabha Hospital does not have a blood testing facility, a doctor on condition of anonymity said they normally took the blood, sealed it in a bottle and asked the police to take it to Sir JJ Hospital for testing. Salman was however taken to JJ Hospital instead of Bhabha. A doctor attached to Rajawadi Hospital said that a blood sample for alcohol content testing, should be taken within six hours as it gets easily absorbed and metabolised in the liver, irrespective of the quantity of alcohol consumed. After six hours, it would be difficult to say if the person was under the influence of alcohol. Hospital morgue sources revealed that Behra’s body was so badly smashed, his left hand was separated from his torso and his intestines had spilled out. His body will be sent to Cooper Hospital for a postmortem after his relatives arrive from UP. Family of dead would opt for compensation We do not have the resources to fight long court battles. We would prefer to go in for compensation, said Rahim Sharif, brother of Nurullah who was killed after being run over by actor Salman Khan’s vehicle in Bandra last morning. Sharif said his 45-year-old brother had been working at the A1 Bakery for nearly 17 years and was divorced from his wife. He was staying with his mother and younger brothers. The brothers were dependent on his earnings, he said. Though the family used to stay at Bharat Nagar, Bandra (E), Nurullah himself was in the habit of sleeping outside the shop with other workers. The place where the accident took place is removed from the main road, and only an out-of-control vehicle can crash there, he said. My brother’s face and body was smashed and was beyond recognition, Rahim said. Rahim initially hoped his brother would have survived the accident and searched for him among the injured persons. Only when he saw the lungi and shirt of the dead man did he realise it was his own brother who had died, he said. Sharif said the families affected by the accident are all poor and do not have resources to fight court battles. It is only logical that the film star will be favoured by police and other agencies. Who will fight for us? This is the reason we want a settlement with compensation, he said. The mother and brothers will get some support with the money, and it would help them survive, he said. The mother was informed of the accident only late evening. She is in a state of shock, he said. Nurullah’s body has been kept at the Cooper Post Mortem Centre. The family is waiting for some relatives to arrive from out of town before the burial takes place.
Monday, September 30, 2002
New toy teeth for fighter fleet
Pune, Sept. 27: On the tarmac at the Indian Air Force base here, the mid-day sun glinting off their silver-grey bodies and open glass canopies, there is little to distinguish the new mean machines from similar fighters in the fleet. Inside the hangar, the story comes alive: each wing of the plane sports four red-nosed air-to-air missiles for mid-air dogfights; the payload includes 12 bombs of 100 and 250 kg for air-to-ground attack; on the port side, just outside the cockpit, the hose for a mid-air refuel that can make sorties longer and under the canopy, for each of the two pilots, digitised control mechanisms operating at the push of buttons that makes the fully-armed, fully-loaded Sukhoi 30 MKI the air force's new toy. It flies long distance, stalls in mid-air, bombs from beyond visual distance, recces, somersaults, twists, turns, fires while climbing, bombs while diving, engages from impossible angles and, its makers claim, there is no limit to its manoeuvrability. "There is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world; not even in Russia which has manufactured it," claims IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy. The Sukhoi 30 MKI is a multi-role combat aircraft, capable of use for both defensive and offensive actions, filling a void in the air force's inventory. "It is capable of changing the rules of engagement." Simply put, this means, in a Kargil-type situation, the Sukhoi 30 MKI can be used by the air force to bomb targets without going dangerously close to the Line of Control and risking a breach of airspace. It means also that the aircraft can be hidden away in bases at great distances from the front. Minutes later, wing commander N.S. Jamwal, commanding the 20 squadron charged with the new responsibility, takes off in one. The roar follows the plane. As it takes off, its nose is pointing skywards already, close to 90 degrees. It takes just 150 metres, approximately 20 cricket pitches from end to end, for the take-off. The first batch of 10 aircraft was formally inducted into the IAF today. By June next year, another 20 will join in. And for 10 years from 2004, a total of 140 are to be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics under license from Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau. When the deal was first initiated in 1997, it was estimated to total Rs 6,300 crore; with the upgradation from the Sukhoi 30k to the MKI version, it said to have crossed Rs 7,400 crore. Specific figures for the total deal are not yet available but could be in the region of Rs 20,000 crore. "We hope that the induction of this aircraft will be a warning to those who look upon India with an evil eye," said defence minister George Fernandes. At the airbase here, the first test flight on the Sukhoi 30 MKI was carried out on August 14, as the base commander said, "to send a warning to our primary adversary on its Independence day". Though the aircraft is of Russian-make, it incorporates in its sophisticated instruments, avionics from India, Israel and France. It is a considerable upgrade on the earlier variant, the Sukhoi 30K. "We haven't flown anything like it. Its just wonderful," says Jamwal, just landing from a demo. His squadron, also called the "Lightnings", will be the first to go operational with the MKI. Krishnaswamy claimed the Su 30 MKI compared favourably with the Su 30 MKK, a version made by Sukhoi for the Chinese. It is the state-of-the-art model of the Su 27 Flanker that used to be produced in the USSR and is advertised as being able to match the American F 22.
Monday, September 30, 2002
India says is curbing 'cross-border terrorism'
NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR (Reuters) - India said on Sunday that state elections in Kashmir -- now at the midway stage -- had been successful and showed it had made big strides in curbing "cross-border terrorism" from neighbouring Pakistan. "Pakistani-sponsored terrorist groups tried everything to dissuade the people of Kashmir from participating...it is a victory of democracy," Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani said ahead of the third round of voting set for Tuesday. "I have no doubt the remaining two rounds will also be successful," he told a police conference, saying turnout in the first two phases of the vote represented "a significant victory in our fight against cross-border terrorism". He made the statements as nuclear-armed India and Pakistan remained locked in a military standoff over New Delhi's charges that Islamabad sponsors militant attacks against India. Pakistan and Kashmiri separatist groups boycotting the vote dismiss the polls, clouded by violence, as a farce. They say a U.N.-mandated plebiscite should be held in Kashmir to decide whether the territory should be folded into India or Pakistan. Indian officials said the first two voting rounds in Jammu and Kashmir recorded turnout of more than 40 percent, despite threats by Muslim separatist militants to kill candidates and voters in the four-stage election which winds up on October 8. More than 570 people, including a state minister, have been killed in rebel-related violence since the vote was announced on August 2. Campaigning for the third round ended on Sunday. Separatist groups in Kashmir, officially secular but mainly Hindu India's only Muslim-majority state, have accused officials of inflating the turnout in the vote that New Delhi hopes will bolster its rule in the disputed Himalayan region. Election officials have denied the allegations. The issue of cross-border militancy has become critical during the elections and after a raid last weekend on a Hindu temple in western Gujarat state in which Muslim gunmen barely out of their teens shot dead 28 people and wounded more than 70. Advani, who has linked the massacre to what he said was militant unhappiness over the elections in Kashmir, blamed Pakistan for the raid again on Sunday. He said police leads pointed "to the act being not merely an act of terrorism but of cross-border terrorism" aimed at stirring communal violence in Gujarat, convulsed by religious riots earlier in the year. Pakistan has condemned the attack in the state capital Gandhinagar that ended when commandos shot dead the assailants, and denied it had anything to do with it. KEPT PEACE Advani praised Indians for maintaining religious peace after the raid on the imposing sandstone temple. "Our people...have responded well to this sinister conspiracy," he said. In February and March in Gujarat, at least 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, died in reprisal killings after a Muslim mob torched a train, killing 59 Hindus. Late on Sunday in Gandhinagar, at least 20,000 people crowded the Akshardham temple complex, its walls pockmarked by bullets from the all-night siege, to mourn the massacre victims. Shastrinarayan Swaroop Das, head of the Swaminarayan sect, which has a tradition of social work, appealed for "calm and peace". He said "there is conflict among religions only because we have failed to understand our own religions." To provide greater security during the polls, thousands of soldiers and paramilitary troops have been deployed across Kashmir and the vote has been staggered over several weeks. India sees the vote as a test of Pakistan's pledge earlier this year to halt incursions by Muslim militants it blames for attacks that brought the neighbours to the brink of war in June. Islamabad, which says it gives political support to the "freedom struggle" of the Kashmiri people, says infiltration, except by rogue elements, has ended. But the U.S. envoy to New Delhi said last week Washington believed incursions had risen since campaigning began on August 2. On Sunday, police said militants hurled a grenade at a bus station in Kashmir, killing a man and wounding 17 people in Tral, one of the areas with elections on Tuesday. Militants also fired another grenade in the area, injuring a security man. In other weekend violence, a politician was wounded and four people, including her father, were killed on Saturday when their vehicle ran over a landmine planted by militants. Police said guerrillas also gunned down an activist with Kashmir's ruling National Conference party late on Saturday in Ganderbal, east of the state's summer capital, Srinagar. Elsewhere in India, police said they killed five Muslim militants in a shootout on Sunday in southern Bangalore city and linked their leader to pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatists.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Every country has right to pre-emption: Jaswant
Washington, Sept 30 Finance Minister JASWANT Singh has said every country has a right to pre-emptive strikes as an inherent part of its right to self-defence and it was not the prerogative of any one nation. "Pre-emption or prevention is inherent in deterrence. Where there is deterrence there is pre-emption. The same thing is there in Article 51 of the UN Charter which calls it 'the right of self-defence'," he told reporters here yesterday. Singh, who was here to attend the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetory Fund, met US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Director of Policy Planning Richard Haass. He said he discussed the "doctrine" of pre-emption or prevention with the American leaders and decided it was more an appropriate issue for academic discussion than for a press conference. "Every nation has that right (of pre-emption). It is not the prerogative of any one country," Singh said. "Pre-emption is the right of any nation to prevent injury to itself. Deterring an enemy from attacking you is inherent in Article 51 of the UN Charter. That is now becoming a complex academic discussion." Singh said he had discussed the evolving situation in Iraq and the Middle East with US leaders at length. The minister said he goes home convinced that the US seeks a strategic partnership with India and pointed out that this was the message US President George W Bush conveyed to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when they met in New York.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Champions Trophy final abandoned.
Heavy rains forced the abandonment of the Champions Trophy final match here today with India placed at 14 without loss in two overs after Sri Lanka had scored 244 for five. The match will be played afresh on the reserve day tomorrow. Virender Sehwag was batting on 13 while Dinesh Mongia was on one when rains began.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Vajpayee, Blair to discuss fight against terrorism
London, Sept 30 The fight against terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, will figure prominently in the talks Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will have here with his British counterpart Tony Blair on October 12, official sources said today. This will be the fourth meeting between the two leaders during the last one year, a significant pointer to the growing relations between the two countries. Blair first met Vajpayee in New Delhi in October last year. They again met the next month when Vajpayee visited London. Blair also paid an official visit to India in January. Vajpayee will arrive here on October 11 after attending the India-European Union Summit in Copenhagen. According to the sources, there is no structured agenda for the two leaders' meeting but several issues including bilateral, regional and international issues would figure during the talks. The long-pending Hawk sale deal which is at a crucial stage may figure in the discussion, they said. India has evinced interest to purchase 66 Advanced Jet Trainers (Hawk) at an estimated cost of one billion pounds from Britain. But the negotiation was stuck on final pricing.
Monday, September 30, 2002
Thousands mourn massacre victims at Indian temple
GANDHINAGAR, India (Reuters) - At least 20,000 people crowded a Hindu temple in western India on Sunday to mourn more than two dozen victims of a massacre by Muslim gunmen. Grieving relatives were among the mourners at the prayer meeting in Gandhinagar, capital of Gujarat state, to mark the public reopening of the ornate pink sandstone temple. The walls still showed bullet marks from Tuesday's attack. "No words can describe the heinous crime committed on September 24," Vatsal Swami, a senior leader of the Swaminarayan sect, told the crowd in the sprawling 23-acre (10 hectare) complex. "It was not against one religion or any one community but against the whole humanity," he said at the ceremony attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other politicians as well as Muslim and Christian representatives. The two young men, armed with automatic weapons and grenades, barged into the temple and sprayed devotees with bullets, killing 28 people, four of them children. The attackers were shot dead by commandos. There have been fears the attack could reignite communal tensions in Gujarat, which was swept by a wave of religious violence earlier this year. The crowd observed a two-minute silence at the prayer meeting and heard an appeal for calm from Shastrinarayan Swaroop Das, head of Swaminarayan, one of India's wealthiest sects with a tradition of social work. "There is conflict among religions only because we have failed to understand our own religions," he said. At least 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, died in Gujarat's riots in February and March after a Muslim mob torched a train, killing 59 Hindus. Letters found on the gunmen said the temple raid was carried out to avenge Muslims killed in the riots. Indian authorities say they suspect the attackers had ties to Pakistan. Pakistan has condemned the attack and denies having anything to do with it. Investigators said they believed the gunmen belonged to a previously unknown group, Tehrik-e-Kasas or Movement of Revenge, suspected to be a front for outlawed Pakistan-based militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. The two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours are locked in a military standoff triggered by a December attack on India's parliament, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Escape from Taliban'
Starring: Manisha Koirala, Nawab Khan & Vineeta Malik Director/s: Ujjal Chatterjee & Vijay Nopani Producer/s: Ashok Khemka & Vijay Nopani Music: Babul Bose Lyrics: Mehboob Since the September 11th incidents all media attention has been focused on Afghanistan. Therefore it's hardly a surprise that a film depicting life in the conflict torn country has now been made with Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala in the lead role. 'Escape from Taliban' is based on a true story of Sushmita Bhandopadhaya, the woman who married Afghani national Jaanbaaz Khan. The film stems from the account of Sushmita as recorded in her autobiographical Bengali novels 'Kabuliwalar Bangali Bau' and 'Afghan O Ami'. Blinded by love, Sushmita leaves her hometown Kolkata and follows Khan to Sarana, a small town about 18 hours away from Kabul, Afghanistan, only to find hatred and disrespect towards women in the country and was even forced to covert to Islam. The film deals with Sushmita's struggle and final escape after six years in the country from the restrictive Taliban regime. Director Ujjal Chattopadhyay, who has directed two national award winning Bengali films, believes the film will attract much controversy due to the sensitivity of the subject. An interesting element about the film is that it is the first film in English with helpings of Pashto to be made in Mumbai. 'Escape from Taliban', the story of the plight of an Indian wife in Afghanistan, is the third film in recent times based on controversial real life stories. Shekar Kapoor's 'Bandit Queen' and Jagmohan Mundra's 'Bawandar' recreated harrowing incidents from the lives of Phoolan Devi, a bandit turned MP who was killed last year and Bhanwari Devi, a social activist who was raped by villagers for trying to prevent child marriages. The fact that 'Escape from Taliban' is based on a true life story adds credibility to the film and may attract the interest of the public after watching Afghanistan and its people on TV over the past months. The film brings to light the harsh reality of terrorism in the Taliban that has only recently been brought into world view.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Roshni
Producer: Rajesh Bhatia and Hemang Desai Director: Karan Razdan Lyrics: Ibrahim Ashq Music: Anand Milind Starring: Bikram Saluja, Milind Soman, Kashmira Shah and Kiran Zaveri PREDICTED RATING: 7/10 Ripples Entertainment’s last venture, Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar, certainly succeeded in keeping the audiences in their own homes. But they bounce back with Roshni, which promises to be “a love triangle with a fresh look”. In a Radio Sargam exclusive Rupa Nandha takes a sneak peek at the emotional thriller. The “Fatal Attraction” theme was last successfully executed in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya. Although the essence of Roshni hints at a similar theme, it seems the film is a little more complex. By adopting a murder mystery streak and an extra angle to the love triangle it successfully steers away from comparisons with its predecessors. The film opens up on the banks of the river Thames, London, with a distressed Rohan (Bikram Saluja) awaiting the outcome of the rescue operations that are taking place around him, for his wife, Roshni, (Kiran Zaveri). When he reveals the picture of his wife to the police, who are interrogating the unfortunate incident, we are taken back to the time when Rohan and Roshni first met. The affluent Brit, Rohan, returns to India to attend his cousin’s wedding where he falls for Roshni and marries the Indian girl in quick succession. On returning back to England as Rohan’s bride, Roshni soon learns of Rohan’s recklessness. His impulsive ways encourage him to engage in a post-marital affair with a sultry Londoner, Maya (Kashmira Shah). Roshni’s accepting of and adapting to this new woman in Rohan’s life allows room for Maya to dig her claws in more. Divorce is inevitable which puts Roshni on the streets of London. In solitude she fortunately meets an out of work Lawyer, Ajay (Milind Soman), who uses his “know how” to get Roshni her due rights. As Rohan’s memories bring us to present day we are confronted with what guarantees to be a fiery and soul-searching finale; as the tag-line suggests “Love is silent… Sometimes violent”! Extensively shot in UK and partially in India, Roshni looks set to hit the silver screens in September.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Jeena Sirf Merre Liye
Director: Talat Jani. Producer: Vashu Bhagnani. Music: Nadeem-Shravan. Lyrics: Sameer Starring: Tusshar, Kareena Kapoor PREDICTED RATING: 6/10 After starring in the surprise box office blockbuster Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, the hit pairing of Kareena Kapoor and Tusshar re-surface in Vashu Bhagnani's Jeena Sirf Merre Liye. Its hardly surprising that the Bollywood youngsters have decided to make the most of their well received onscreen chemistry, although this time around their roles are reversed! After chasing Kareena just to say Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Tusshar decides to let his co-star do the pursuing in this movie. The film is about the relationship shared between both their characters. The duo are inseparable during childhood and slowly start falling in love. But as fate would have it, the lovers are separated. The time apart Kareena still holds a flame for her childhood sweetheart, and as the years go by her love grows and matures for the man of her dreams. When Tusshar finally returns Kareena assumes their love story will continue. Tusshar, however, has no intention of continuing the romance, and from here on the chasing begins. The music isn't comparable to Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, but it isn't a bad musical score. The title song by far stands out as a Nadeem-Shravan classic, but the album isn't up to the usual NS standard. The last "it" pairing AKA Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel, did very little to create a storm at the box-office with their follow up to Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. But here's hoping Kareena and Tusshar don't allow history to repeat itself and deliver an equally plausible film as Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai. Even though the girl chasing boy story has been told many times before it will be interesting to see the final outcome when it graces the silver screens in November.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Dil Hai Tumhaara
Director: Kundan Shah Music: Nadeem Shravan Lyrics: Sameer Producer: Kumar S. Taurani, Ramesh S. Taurani Starring: Preity Zinta, Rekha, Mahima & Arjun Rampal RATING: 4/10 Tips Films' Dil Hai Tumhaara is an emotional tale of an illegitimate child. Unaware that she (Preity Zinta) is the step-daughter of her mother (Rekha), she realises, however, right in her childhood that her mother loves her sister (Mahima Chaudhry) more than her. The emotional bond between the two sisters is, nevertheless, very strong. As luck would have it, both fall in love with the same handsome boy (Arjun Rampal). The boy reciprocates the love of the illegitimate daughter, but the sister (Mahima) thinks, he is in love with her (Mahima). The mother thinks that her step-daughter is trying to wean away her daughter's love from her. She is unaware that the boy does not love her biological daughter. Seeing her daughter's chances of marriage getting jeopardised, the mother reveals all - that her husband had fathered the other girl and how, after the death of her husband and his paramour, she had raised the orphan as her own child. She accuses her of trying to ruin her daughter's life just as her mother had ruined her own life. Distraught, the illegitimate daughter decides to move out of the path of her sister whom she genuinely loves. She even pleads with the boy to forget her and marry her sister instead. Not just this, when the truth about her identity threatens to break the marriage of her sister, she even confronts the boy's family members and begs of them to not cancel the impending marriage only because of her illegitimate status. This emotionally moves the mother who realises that her husband's illegitimate daughter is actually a golden-hearted girl. Finally, the sister also gets to know the truth and unites her golden-hearted step-sister with her boyfriend while herself refusing to become the bride. The story (Rajkumar Santoshi) is very emotional but the screenplay (Rajkumar Santoshi and Kundan Shah) does not do full justice to its potential. Had the scenes showing the mother firing the step-daughter in the first half been more heart-wrenching, not just the emotional impact but also the base of the film would've been stronger. As it happens, the mother fires her step-daughter but not without reason. The sentiments would've been more touching if she had insulted Preity for absolutely no fault of hers. This is a major drawback of the film. The screenplay is also not as smooth as it should've been. Several tracks, which have been added to the mother-daughter story, look like add-ons and mar the impact of the film to an extent. For instance, the angle of the 'Refresh' apple juice and the comedy track of the hero's two CEOs have no relevance and are not even worthwhile additions. So also, the angle of the mother's political adversary, raking up the illegitimate daughter issue in the pre-climax, looks out of place, if only because there was no way for him to have known it. The ventriloquism angle has been shabbily treated - the ventriloquist's doll talks even when the former is not holding him in his hand! The first half has several light moments which are entertaining. Despite a lot of laughter before interval, the feeling the audience gets up with at interval-point is that of having seen a frivolous story. The drama picks up a bit post-interval but the real emotions start once the mother decides to bare her heart out and tell her step-daughter of her real identity. From then on, right till the climax, there are scenes which make the audience weep. In particular, the scene in which the mother pours her heart out, the scene thereafter in which the two sisters interact and the scene in which the girl pleads with her sister's to-be father-in-law to not call off the marriage are just too fantastic and would move even the stone-hearted to tears. Many of the women, of course, would cry inconsolably in these scenes, all of which go on for about 20 minutes. Again, the climax is quite tame, comparatively. Dialogue (Subrat Sinha) are very well-written - the light ones serve to create the right mood while the emotional ones definitely add to the drama. Preity Zinta shines in an author-backed role and acts with admirable ease. If she is lovable and cute in the first half, she is absolutely first-rate in the weepy scenes of the second half. Mahima Chaudhry has the lesser role but she too is brilliant. In particular, her acting in the scene when her mother takes out all her frustration on Preity and in the engagement ceremony scene when she realises there's something amiss is superb. Rekha, as their mother, lives her role and emotes beautifully. Arjun Rampal looks handsome and does fairly well. Jimmy Shergill is very average. Alok Nath is alright in the limited scope he gets. Govind Namdev leaves a mark with his acting. Anjan Srivastava is effective. Gajraj Rao is also very good. Vivek Shauq and Dilip Joshi have been wasted. Sachin Khedekar does well in a brief role. Natasha Sinha, Achyut Potdar and child artistes Raveena Taurani, Karishma Lalwani, Shreya Chawla, Raj Bhatia and Tanvi lend good support. Kundan Shah's direction is good. His handling of the emotional scenes, especially, deserves special mention. But one wishes, he'd taken care of the aforementioned weaknesses of the screenplay. He could have also paid more attention to the studio scenes; Jimmy Shergill's house on a studio set looks quite ridiculous, more so because it's a film with fairly good production and technical values. Music (Nadeem Shravan) is very melodious. 'Mohabbat dil ka sukun', the title track, 'Dil laga liya' and 'Chhaya hai jo dil pe' are the best songs. 'Kasam kha ke kaho' and 'O Saaybaa' are also tuneful. Song picturisations could've been much better. Camerawork (Jehangir Chowdhury) is of a good standard. Sham Kaushal's action is functional. On the whole, Dil Hai Tumhaara has excellent emotions and family appeal to make the audience cry and, therefore, distributors smile.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Shah Rukh to act in Karan Johar's Kal Ho Na Ho
Here's a shocker, folks. According to the grapevine, Karan Johar's next film is actually a remake of the Amitabh-Rajesh Khanna hit Anand. With the livewire Shah Rukh playing the 'full of life' character portrayed by Rajesh Khanna, who is terminally ill, while Saif will step in Amitabh's shoes. Titled Kal Ho Na Ho, the film is expected to be an emotional tear-jerker which fits perfectly in Karan's style. Incidentally, wonder if it was the success of Devdas - another tragedy - that inspired Karan to work on this sad story!
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Manoj delivers 'Bhiku Mahtre' in Road
If you haven't seen Road already, you've missed a lot. Especially Manoj Bajpai's phenomenal performance in the film. In fact, the film is touted to be the actor's come-back film by none other than his co-actor, the new kid on the block, Vivek Oberoi. Although Satya was a runaway hit, and Kaun just about brought in some extra dough, none of Manoj's other films had done well. But looks like he's all set to revive his career. Then again, like Ramgopal Varma says, when did he ever go away to make a 'comeback'?! Point well taken, Mr Varma!
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Road - a lethal adventure
In a Ram Gopal Varma film, the only predictable factor is the unpredictable. Like the barren sand-swept highway on which Road's" lovebirds Vivek Oberoi and Antara Mali take off for a runaway marriage, one never knows what lies ahead. Director Rajat Mukherjee takes viewers for a ride that one isn't likely to forget in a hurry. He sweeps one into the vortex of disturbingly implosive violence on a lonely and stark highway in Rajasthan. As the defiant lovers Laxmi (Antara Mali) and Arvind (Vivek Oberoi) zip off to the accompaniment of screaming wheels and wailing guitars, one sits up in anticipation. The what-next feeling never goes away as the lead pair's life on the road gets overtaken by a very normal-seeming stranger Babu (Manoj Bajpai) who thumbs a ride from Arvind and Laxmi and then takes them through a traumatic maze of adventures. The film uses the barren landscape to great advantage. There's no assuaging greenery, just virile rust and brown frames. First-time cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee shoots the hinterland with stark grace. The bleak beauty of the frames echoes the incendiary tensions of the Spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone. The three characters trapped in a lethal game of catch-me-if-you-can blend into the scenario with effortlessness. In most Hindi mainstream films, the principal players stand a little apart from the landscape in a glamorous enclave. In Road, the actors seem to fully belong to the world that they inhabit. It's a bleak and barren world punctuated by unexpected spurts of humour. Theatre actor Makarand Deshpande (who did the narration in Varma's Company) is a mass of bewildered synergy playing a truck driver fascinated by Sunny Deol in Gadar. Through such characters, Varma's cinema constantly draws attention to and deflects from formulistic conventions. The most interesting incidental character is Rajpal Yadav who plays a film-fixated petrol pump attendant. After Manoj roughs him up, he vows never to watch director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films again. The theme of The Intruder recurs in Ram Gopal Varma's cinema. The film's deceptively casual mode of operation adds to its implosive tension. Manoj as the intruder Babu is more controlled and in charge of his character's karma than ever before. Very little is said about the character's antecedents except when he begins to open up before his captive. When Babu confides in Laxmi, she exudes a certain raw energy that goes against every rule of coy conduct observed by the Hindi film heroine. However, Mali is made to get into skimpy linen and slither and slide in rites of sensuality for a remarkably superfluous song. Such an embarrassing contradiction could have been avoided. Numbers like model Koina Mitra's sweaty and upfront Nikal le Bhaiyye arrest the fast moving narrative in its tracks and remind one that commercial Hindi cinema can never truly change its spots. The film's most unforgivable aberration is Manoj's dream sequence where the director lampoons Hindi cinema's heaving bosom-gyrating pelvis routine. Also, Sandesh Shandilya's aggressive music score should have been tempered severely as it often gets in the way of dialogues. The almost total disregard for convention is mapped in the no-holds-barred aggression projected in Manoj and Antara's performances. Vivek, in a thanklessly "heroic" role, is far more subdued. Road gives him an opportunity to move away from his debut role in Company to portray a state-of-the-art leading man with intelligence, subtlety and humour. His romantic sequences with his co-star are agile and vibrant. Especially memorable is the sequence after Manoj's first attempt to kidnap Antara where the couple in their car discuss the intruder with ironic humour. Road warns us to "Drive Carefully". That's advice Varma has never listened to in his career. He has a particularly adventurous crew with him in this roller-coaster ride through Rajasthan. Though everyone is in his or her element Manoj walks away the acting honours. He might walk away with all the villain's role awards this year, but is he really the villain of the piece? That's the disturbing thought that "Road leaves us with.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Mini World Cup final likely to be a thriller
Colombo,Sunday, September 29, 2002: An exciting tussle between explosive batting and clever spin bowling is on the cards as India and Sri Lanka meet in the final of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament here on Sunday chasing the second biggest title of the game ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa. Both the teams are high on confidence after ousting favourites South Africa and Australia in the semifinals and look equally balanced too. Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly believes his side's superior batting skills will take the team through while his counterpart Sanath Jayasuriya says his bowling department is stronger and will do the star turn for them. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh at their destructive best against the guiles of Muttiah Muralitharan and company is a potentially mouth- watering proposition and expectations of a tough and absorbing match, something which this tournament has not witnessed much so far, are soaring in this island nation. India, who had lost to New Zealand in the title clash of the previous edition of this tournament in Nairobi in 2000, are making sure they don't falter at the last hurdle this time. They have recalled their leading fast bowler Javagal Srinath to replace an injured Ashish Nehra. Srinath, who was playing county cricket in England, is almost certain to play on Sunday though Ganguly did not reveal his final eleven. 09:36 IST
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Inflation breaches four per cent mark to touch 4.03 pc
New Delhi,Sunday, September 29, 2002: A fall in prices of primary articles failed to check the inflation rate which crossed the four per cent mark for the first time during the year at 4.03 per cent due to costlier manufactured products. Annual rate of inflation for the previous week stood at 3.77 per cent and 4.60 per cent a year ago. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the week stood unchanged at 167.8. However WPI for the week ended July 20 stood revised 165.7 as aganist a provisional figure of 165.5 while inflation rate stood at 2.86 as compared to 2.73. Index for Primary Articles declined by 0.1 per cent to 177.4 from 177.5 for the previous week and 168.3 a year ago due to a fall in prices of jowar (four per cent), eggs (three per cent) and maize, gram and masur (one per cent each). Index for Food Articles remained unchanged at 183.8 but moved up from last years level of 174.4. Prices of condiments and spices rose (two per cent), bajra and ragi (one per cent each). Index for Non Food Artciles declined by 0.3 per cent to 165.8 from 166.3 last week due to lower prices of castor seed (six per cent), raw silk and linseed (three per cent), raw cotton (two per cent) and raw jute, cotton seed and kardi seed (one per cent each). However prices of copra, gingelly seed and sunflower moved up one per cent. Index for Minerals group rose by 0.1 per cent to 120 from 119.9 for the previous week owing to higher prices of barytes (23 per cent), vermiculite (10 per cent) and fire clay (nine per cent). However prices of magnesite fell (eight per cent) and silica sand (one per cent). 09:36 IST
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Sanjay Dutt, 88 bomb blast accused to appear on Monday
Mumbai,Sunday, September 29, 2002: In keeping with a judicial order, film actor Sanjay Dutt and 88 other accused in the 1993 bomb blast case would appear before a special court Monday even as CBI appeared set to oppose a petition filed by an accused challenging the constitutional validity of TADA (P) Act. Altogether 89 accused, including Sanjay, have been exempted till month end by judge P D Kode. The court has summoned them on Monday. CBI has sought time to conclude its arguments in this marathon trial which has reached its fag end after seven years. In a related development, accused Shaikh Aziz has challenged the constitutional validity of TADA (P) Act. His lawyer, Nafiz Siddiqui, argued that the act was ultravires the constitution and the special court should make a reference to the supreme court to determine the validity of the act. CBI's lawyer S Natrajan, on September 16, opposed the plea of the accused to make a reference to the supreme court. He said the special court had no powers to entertain such a petition. He also opined that the accused should have gone directly to the apex court instead of approaching the designated TADA (P) court. CBI has been asked to file its say on Monday. 09:36 IST
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Vajpayee betrayed Hindus on Ayodhya issue: VHP
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged on Saturday that Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had betrayed Hindus on Ayodhya temple construction issue. Talking to reporters in Lucknow after the meeting of VHP's kendriya margdarshak mandal, its international working president Ashok Singhal said the 'Hindu samaj' had expected Vajpayee to take positive steps in the matter but he ignored their feelings. Without naming Bharatiya Janata Party, Singhal said the political parties which had supported the VHP and the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation had benefitted while the ones, which had not, have suffered. Without referring to 'shiladaan' programme, he said prime minister had opposed this 'chain' of agitation. However, by opposing it, Vajpayee's reliability has fallen, claiming that the change in the attitude of PM has substantially reduced the mass base of his party. Government had placed several restrictions during the March 15 'shiladaan' programme, he complained. He alleged that by remaining a fence-sitter during the VHP's call for 'Bharat Bandh' after Tuesday's Akshardham temple massacre, BJP has indulged in an anti-social activity. Singhal said decisions taken by Vajpayee have only mounted losses for BJP. ''But if he changes his attitude on the Ayodhya issue, he can regain his reliability,'' he added.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Two blasts in Kashmir,7 killed
In two seperate incidents seven persons including three SSB jawans were killed in Kashmir even as a NCP candidate injured. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate from Devsar Assembly constituency Khalida Mustaq was critically injured while four others were killed when their vehicle ran over a land mine planted by militants at Pehloo Kulgam in south Kashmir on Saturday afternoon. An official spokesman told that miliants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device (ied) at Pehloo Kulgam when the vehicle carrying Khalida and four others reached there. He said blast resulted in on the spot death of four persons--head constable Noor Mohammad, her supporters Mushtaq, Jehangir and Mohammad Yousuf. She was critically wounded in the blast, he said adding a woman pedestrain also received splinter wounds. Khalida is contesting from Devsar Assembly segment which goes to polls on Tuesday in third phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections. He said the area has been cordoned off and a massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants. At least three security personnel were killed and three others were wounded when militants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device at Pehloo Kulgam in south Kashmir district of Ananatnag, which goes to polls on Tuesday in the third phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections. Official sources told that militants detonated a powerful improvised explosive device when a vehicle carrying SSB personnel for poll duty reached Pehloo around 1420 hours on Saturday afternoon. Sources said vehicle was blown up in the blast resulting in on the spot death of three jawans and injuries to three others. The injured were admitted to hospital. ources said the entire area has been cordoned off and a massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants responsible for causing the blast. Security forces were on way to another nearby village for poll duty when the blast took place, sources said.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Police kill five suspected militants in Bangalore
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Police said they had killed five suspected Islamic militants in a shoot out after raiding their hideout in Bangalore on Sunday. Karnataka state police, acting with the help of police from Tamil Nadu, surrounded the hideout in a city suburb at about 2 a.m. Police came under fire from the house and the suspects, who included a man called Imam Ali and a woman, were all shot by police fire, said city police commissioner, H.T. Sangliana. "In the exchange of fire all were hit," Sangliana said. The five were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead, he said. Ali was suspected of involvement in a bomb attack on the regional office of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Madras in 1993 and later escaped when he was being taken to court from prison, Sangliana said. The group was also suspected of involvement in six armed robberies, he said. Sangliana said the five were Muslim militants, although there was no evidence they had links to any particular group. "Obviously they are extremists and sympathisers of all these groups," he said. "They had come from Tamil Nadu and had been hiding in Bangalore at Sanjay Nagar posing as dealers in timber," he said, referring to a Bangalore suburb. Sangliana identified Ali's accomplices as Manga Bashir alias Anwar, Mohammed Ibrahim, Saifullah and Saifullah's wife, who he did not identify. Ali was also wanted for extortion, he said.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Salman pays Rs 950 and walks out on bail
Salman Khan's car that rammed into a bakery at Bandra early on Saturday morning, killing one person and injuring four others. MUMBAI: Bollywood star Salman Khan allegedly drove his Toyota Landcruiser over five migrant workers sleeping on a Bandra sidewalk early on Saturday morning and fled the spot while one of them lay dead and four injured. Eight hours later, Salman was arrested and after paying Rs 950 as personal surety, he walked out on bail. The actor was taken to J J Hospital for an alcohol-detection blood test. Sources said its results would be out in a couple of days. For hours, the police had declared him ``absconding'' saying they had no clue where he was. Later, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bipin Kumar said Salman was arrested near Almeida Park when he was on his way to meet someone. Khan has been booked under Section 304 of the IPC, for rash and negligent driving causing death. In his statement, Salman claimed he was in the back seat when the accident occurred at 2.45 am as his car ran into American Express Cleaners on Hill Road. But DCP Kumar denied this: ``The FIR was filed by one of our constables. It clearly states that Salman was driving.'' The FIR was filed by Salman's security officer Ravindra Patil, a Mumbai police constable who was in the car with Salman and friend Kamal Khan. The victims, too, say they saw Salman run away. They are all employees of the nearby A-1 Stores and Bakery and were settling in for the night outside the American Express Cleaners shop. Two other victims _ Kalim Pathan and Mannu Khan _ escaped with minor injuries. * Noorulah Sharif, 38, dead: Severely mangled body. He has two sons, 8 and 12, living in Gonda, UP. Says cousin Ismail Sharif: ``We all know the case will go in Salman's favour. Paise wale log hai.'' * Mannu Madai, 29: Has wife, son and two daughters in Gonda, UP. Bones in his left foot crushed, abrasions on the elbow, hand and fist. This translates to no work for three weeks. He earns Rs 4,000 a month working 15-hour days at the bakery. * Abdullah Abdul, 22: Fractures in the leg. Sends Rs 3,000 every month to his wife and three children in Asrfapedha, UP. His job at the bakery in doubt. Says relative Sabir Khan: ``Kneading, lifting the loaded tray, setting it into the oven, carrying chopped wood requires strength. They will remain invalid for months now.'' * Muslin Sheikh, 17: Also works at the bakery, has no relatives in Mumbai. ``All these interviews will go on today,'' says the security-guard at the Bhabha Hospital. ``Kal se inka dawai kaun layega?'' (Who will get their medicines from tomorrow?) Only last month, Salman visited the Crime Branch to get an arms licence in the wake of recent underworld threats he claimed to have received. For the actor, this is the most serious brush with the law coming four years after he was arrested for allegedly hunting black buck in Jodhpur while shooting for Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath-Saath Hain. In December 2000, he was questioned by the Crime Branch on suspected links with producer Nasim Rizvi and financier Bharat Shah in the Chori Chori Chupke Chupke case. A year later, he was dragged away by building security after banging on the door of Aishwarya Rai's Lokhandwala apartment for six hours. In January 2002, he was instructed by police to stay away from Aishwarya Rai following a non-cognisable complaint filed by the actress's father.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
IAF inducts Sukhoi-30 MKI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday inducted a new version of the multi-role Sukhoi aircraft called the Sukhoi-30 MKI. The aircraft is acknowledged by many aviation experts as the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. The SU-30 MKI was specially developed for the Indian Air Force and has the capability of undertaking a range of missions over distances as large as 3,000 kilometers without refuelling. This plane also has a thrust-vectoring system that makes it more maneuverable than any other aircraft of its size, giving it an advantage in aerial combat with other fighters. Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister George Fernandes said, "This aircraft is a manifestation of the long standing relationship in areas of defence, India and Russia. We hope to have 140 such aircrafts made with Indian technology in the near future. "The new aircraft has a mid-air refuelling system, which will almost double its flight range from 3,000 kms to 5,200 kms. It can also operate in any weather condition. The Sukhoi is capable of hitting surface, air and sea targets with smart weaponry in substantial distance from the home base. The induction of this aircraft in the Indian Air Force will not only give the country a technological edge but will also strenghthen the relations between India and Russia. This fact was repeated by President of Russian Aviation, Alexey Fedorov who said, "It is a good example of the long term relationship between Russia and India."
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Twelve killed, 22 injured in stampede at Lucknow railway station
Agencies LUCKNOW: At least twelve people were killed and twenty two others injured on Saturday night in a stampede at the Charbagh railway station in Lucknow, according to railway police. The victims were activists of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and were returning home after a party rally here, police said. The stampede occurred as surging crowds ascended the main staircase of the train station. A few people slipped and this led to a melee as panic stricken people attempted to escape from the crush, police said. "We have confirmation about the death of ten people but the figure could be higher," said deputy inspector general of police Arun Kumar, who was personally attempting to regulate the crowds by issuing directions over the public address system. "Much chaos had been caused due to the arrival of large crowds that went far beyond everyone's expectations," admitted divisional railway manager Kamlesh Gupta. "The incident has disrupted train services, but we hope to soon put things in order." "Never before have such massive crowds been seen at the Lucknow railway station," Gupta added.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
'We were asleep, all I saw was my friend's smashed body'
PTI MUMBAI: The 22-year-old M Sheikh, who suffered a leg fracture after popular actor Salman Khan's car ran over him, writhes in pain and agony at the Bhabha Hospital here recounting the accident that took away his close friend Noor Ulah and left him with an injured foot. "We were fast asleep when a sudden noise woke me up. All I saw was a big black wheel over my leg and the horribly mutilated body of my friend Noor," says Sheikh amidst loud sighs and groans that echo through the white walls of the Bhabha Hospital. "The sight of the blood covered and smashed body of Noor shocked me so much, that I fell unconscious" says Noor his eyes welling with pain and tears. Sheikh, who came to Mumbai six months ago and was working at the A-1 bakery says, they were sleeping on a low staircase of the nearby American Cleaners and Bakery, which was nearly six feet away from the main road. The doctors have advised Sheikh to go for an operation. "My father has been intimated about the accident. He will be reaching Mumbai tonight," says Sheikh. S Sharif, nephew of the deceased Noor Ulah, who rushed to the hospital after being informed about the mishap by other co-workers, informs that Noor was not married and had an old mother to support. "The body was so badly mutiliated that we encountered some difficulty in identifying it," says Sharif. However, he is still unsure whether they would pursue legal action against Salman. "Right now we are busy trying to arrange for Noor's funeral rites. We will contemplate on the issue later," he said.
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Salman's security withdrawn
MUMBAI: Hours after film actor Salman Khan rammed his vehicle into a bakery killing one and injuring four others, police abruptly withdrew the security accorded to him. Police bodyguard, Rajendra Pralhad Patil, was on Fridya night recalled by the protection branch of city cops, police sources told here. Protection was given to Salman nearly three weeks ago after he complained of extortion threats from the underworld. Salman had also hired a private security guard for his protection. Both the guards were present in the vehicle when the mishap occurred. The police bodyguard filed a complaint in Bandra police station alleging that the actor was driving the vehicle at the time of accident. Salman's lawyer Waris Pathan, however, claimed that Salman was not driving the vehicle. The private bodyguard of the actor was in the driver's seat, he added.
Saturday, September 28, 2002
World not realising ISI is prime source of terrorism: Advani
Asserting that Pakistan's ISI was a prime source of terrorism as al Qaeda and Taliban, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today regretted that the world was not realising this fact and said that India would have to defeat Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism by its own might. "The world is conscious that al Qaeda and Taliban are the prime source of terrorism in the world. But they (world) are not realising that ISI is also the same," Advani said inaugurating a seminar on 'Towards Good Governance' here. He said India had realised this fact and was fighting against it. "India's external and internal security is facing a common threat in the shape of cross-border terrorism which our neighbour has made an instrument of its state policy to achieve the objectives of its visceral anti-India strategy," Advani said. Stating that the world can put pressure on Pakistan to a "certain extent", he said to defeat it, India has to be on its own. He said India was determined to stamp out the threat from terrorism. Advani referred to the "successful" completion of two phases of polling for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in the face of desperate attempts by terrorists to create fear-psychosis. 12:54 IST
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Salman surrenders before police
Film actor Salman Khan today surrendered before police after he rammmed his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra killing one person and seriously injuring four others in their sleep. The actor surrendered before Bandra police station at 1100 IST (0530 GMT), eight hours after the incident. According to police, the actor, who was driving the car, was along with his friend Jamal Khan and a police body guard who lodged a complaint at Bandra police station. The actor had ran away from the spot after the incident at 0249 IST (2119 GMT). The deceased as been identified as Noor-ula-khan and the injured were rushed to nearby Bhabha hospital. A case has been registered against the actor for rash driving and causing death by negligence under section 304 A of the IPC. The bakery is located at hill road near hotel Neel Sagar in Bandra. Police had provided Salman a bodyguard on a plea made by the actor after he received threatening calls from the underworld allegedly for extortion. 11:47 IST
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Seven 'Devdases' at international film fest
New Delhi, Sep 27 Seven manifestations of "Devdas", the blockbuster Hindi move of the year, will be on view at the 33rd International Film Festival of India beginning here on October 1. "The highlight of the festival will be the seven versions of 'Devdas' that we will be screening," festival director Deepak Sandhu told reporters here Friday. "Devdas", based on a popular Bengali novel by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee is said to have revolutionized the entire look of Indian social movies. On view during the 10-day festival will be the Bengali and Hindi versions of Devdas made by P.C. Barua in 1935, Vedantam Raghavaiah's Devadasu in Telegu (1953), Bimal Roy's Hindi version of 1955, Vijaya Nirmnala's Telegu remake (1974), Shakti Samanta's Bengali essay in 2002 and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aiyeshwarya Rai. "We are also proud to announce that Jamuna, the leading lady in the first Bengali version by P.C Barua will be one of our guests," said Sandhu. The festival has been jointly organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the ministry of information and broadcasting, the Delhi government and the Indian film industry. The inaugural function at the Siri Fort Auditorium here will see leading actresses like Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee lighting the ceremonial lamp. Delegates from 24 foreign countries will attend the festival. They will include directors, producers and actors of the films being showcased. The festival will feature 125 films from 40 countries including India in categories like Cinema of the World, Indian Panorama, Foreign Retrospectives and Mainstream Indian Cinema. The Cinema of the World section will feature some 65 foreign films made in the past two years that have won awards or have received critical acclaim, Sandhu said. Cinegoers will also be treated to a retrospective of famed Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni who straddled world cinema as a colossus in the 1960s and 1970s. Award winning films and blockbusters like "Dil Chahta Hai", "Chandni Bar", "Lagaan", "Gadar Ek Prem Katha", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham" and "Raaz" will be showcased in the Mainstream Indian Cinema and Indian Panorama sections. A film bazaar will be organised in collaboration with leading industry chambers "to create a focused opportunity for the international fraternity that is interested in buying, distributing, commissioning and co-producing Indian films," Sandhu said. Buyers from Australia, China, Dubai, Iran, Mauritius and South Africa are expected to attend the bazaar, which will also see seminars on issues like the growth of the film animation industry in India, Sandhu said.
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Injury-hit India summon Srinath for Champions Trophy final
COLOMBO (Reuters) - India have called up veteran quick bowler Javagal Srinath into the squad ahead of the Champions Trophy final on Sunday after an injury to Ashish Nehra. "We have asked him to go over to Colombo from England," Karunakaran Nair, secretary of the Indian board, told Reuters by phone from Bombay. The 32-year-old Srinath, who retired from test cricket in June, was overlooked for the event despite his willingness to play one-day internationals in a bid to play in the World Cup in South Africa next year. Left-arm paceman Nehra tore the webbing on his bowling hand on Wednesday after crashing into the stumps attempting a run-out during India's victory over South Africa in the semi-finals. The injury required five stitches. Srinath is currently on a short stint with English county Leicestershire. All-rounder Ajit Agarkar, along with Zaheer Khan, are the other pacemen in the Indian squad
Friday, September 27, 2002
U S pressure on Pak not working: PM
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said U S pressure on Pakistan to abandon support to terrorism appears not to be working and asserted that India will have to fight its own battle against this menace. "It seems so", Vajpayee said when asked whether pressure from U S and India's own effort was not working on Pakistan to change its stand towards supporting terrorism. He was talking to reporters after speaking at Diamond Jubilee celebrations of CSIR in New Delhi on Thursday. Asked how India would frustrate terrorists attack like the one on the temple in Gandhinagar, he said "by being bold, vigilant." "Militants will not succeed in their demands. Our soldiers have demonstrated. India is vigilant and in a position to meet the challenges".
Friday, September 27, 2002
Army flag march in bandh-hit Gujarat
Normal life in almost all the major towns of Gujarat was brought to a halt following the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-sponsored 'Bharat Bandh' call to protest against Tuesday's terrorists' attack on the Akshardham Temple at Gandhinagar, even as the army staged a flag march early today in all sensitive areas of the city. According to the state police control room, no untoward incident was reported this morning from any part of the state following the general strike. Security arrangements have been beefed up in sensitive areas and additional supply of jawans of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and State Reserve Police force (SRPF) have been deployed. On visiting various parts of the city, a correspondent found major markets shut, while on the outskirts, a few grocery shops were doing business with their shutters half-down.
Friday, September 27, 2002
VHP bandh: Mumbai grinds to halt
Normal life in Mumbai was affected on Thursday and stray incidents of vandalism and stone pelting marred an otherwise peaceful bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Shiv Sena. Attendance in offices, transport and education institutes were all affected following the general strike. While suburban trains operated early morning, VHP and Sena activists brought them to a grinding halt in various places later in the day. Activists squatted on the railway tracks and also laid sleepers across them at Dombivli on the Central line and Malad, Goregaon, Borivli and Grant Road stations on the Western linein the morning, thereby, disrupting the train services. Minor reports of violence were reported from Andheri, a western suburb, where slogan-raising VHP, Sena and loal BJP workers led by BJP Mumai Unit Chief Vinod Tawde rushed on to the platforms and brought the trains to a halt. They forced stall owners on the platforms to down their shutters and in the melee, some property was damaged. Some workers also climbed on the top of trains while others lay down in front of them. Mr Tawde said around 4,000 BJP workers were actively participating in the bandh across the city. By and large, Mumbaikars preferred to stay at home. Both, Government and private offices reported thin attendance. The stock markets here though, functioned as usual and normal trading was reported, while there was almost no trading in the Forex market due to poor attendance.
Friday, September 27, 2002
All sovereign countries can resort to pre-emptive strikes: US
PTI WASHINGTON: Even while asking India to observe restraint, despite Pakistan continuing cross border terrorism, the US on Friday said any sovereign state can resort to pre-emptive or preventive strikes to avert an imminent danger. "The right to resort to pre-emptive or preventive strikes is inherent in the sovereignty of a nation to protect itself," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "The concept of pre-emptive strikes has been included in this year's Strategy Report to alert the public to the fact that terrorist threat is different from other threats. It could be applied to terrorists or to a country", Powell said. Powell, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and others also asserted that recent disclosures by captured al-Qaeda prisoners show that the terror network was active in Baghdad. Powell said that this statement is based on "credible evidence." Rice said that Iraq has provided some training to Al-Qaeda in chemical weapons development. Powell assured the Committee that the US goal after Saddam's ouster is a united Iraq and said US is opposed to a separate Kurdish State.
Friday, September 27, 2002
India says it suspects external involvement in temple attack
New Delhi,Friday, September 27, 2002: India has said it saw a particular "pattern" and harboured suspicions of "external" involvement in the terrorist attack on the Swaminaraian Temple in Gandhinagar but stopped short of directly accusing Pakistan. "Investigations are on. We will definitely be able to unearth the nature of the conspiracy and the planning of the attack and who were involved in it," an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters Thursday. "We are confident that we will be able to unearth the evidence," she said. "But there has been a history of Pakistan's involvement in the past in all such terrorist acts. There was a pattern about this terrorist attack which is very similar to the attacks on our civilian population in the past. "So there is reason for us to be suspicious about external involvement in this matter," she said. New Delhi also nursed deep disillusionment about Pakistan's behaviour, policies and actions which spoke much more than their words on this subject, she said. "Pakistan has basically been a one stock shop of terrorism in our region," she said adding "everything was under one roof". 09:45 IST
Friday, September 27, 2002
Abu Salem's three associates arrested
Delhi Police have arrested three associates of underworld don Abu Salem who allegedly came here to harm a businessman for his refusal to pay extortion money. Sadiq and Ishtiaq, both from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, and C P Rai, from Mau in UP, were arrested Thursday evening from a south Delhi area, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Ashok Chand told. A pistol, a revolver and a mauser with several rounds of cartridges were recovered from them, Chand said. He said Salem had demanded extortion money from a businessman in south Delhi and when he refused, the trio came here with an intention to harm him. During their interrogation, Sadiq, Ishtiaq and Rai disclosed they had also come to threaten another businessman to extort money from him, Chand said. Rai is believed to be the main organiser of hitmen for Salem. The DCP said their detailed interrogation is expected to reveal the activities of Abu Salem gang in north India. Salem was arrested along with his wife and Bollywood starlet Monica Bedi on September 18 in Portugal and efforts are being made to get him deported to India. 11:18 IST
Friday, September 27, 2002
Simputer global launch next month
BANGALORE: Simputer, the simple hand-held computer developed by a group of scientists from the Indian Institute of Science and Encore Software Ltd, will be launched in Singapore next month. After this global launch, the Simputer will be rolled out in several countries in Africa, Latin America, South America and the Far East nations, according to Mr Vinay L. Deshpande, Chairman of the Simputer Trust.
Friday, September 27, 2002
Change in BSNL mobile numbering
COIMBATORE: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has notified a change in the numbering scheme of its mobile subscribers in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Madurai due to `technical reasons'. A BSNL release stated that the mobile numbering scheme is being changed from 98800 xxxxx (xxxxx indicates the mobile number of the subscriber) to 94430 xxxxx with effect from September 28.
Friday, September 27, 2002
'Indians now believe in themselves'
There are subjects for regular brickbats and routine brickbats, and then there are the selectors. Yes, India won what a typical cricket enthusiast would call ‘fantabulous vicotory’ in the Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa in Colombo yesterday. But how many people would credit us, the selectors, for a win? asked selector Sanjay Jagdale jokingly. If the team loses, they blame us like hell and when they win, we are forgotten. But the sight that surely captivated most Indian supporters was an overtly emotional skipper Sourav Ganguly, who was clearly overwhelmed by the performance of the youngsters in his own team. So it’s a trifle tough to believe former chairman of selectors Chandu Borde when he said after the win last night that A lot of people wanted a change in the captaincy. But we stuck with Sourav, because we saw something in him. He his behind the boys and manages to get the best out of them. About Captain Courageous, West Zone selector Kiran More said: I think the team has definitely turned the corner. They have self-confidence and players ready to back each other. Now they don’t throw their hands up till the last ball is bowled. Borde echoed: They have started believing in themselves. I am proud of this win. They are justifying the faith we put in them. It reminded me of the NatWest final (against England). In fact, all the selectors agreed that India, which, till recently famous to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, has entered a new phase as far as the mental aspect of the game is concerned. It looks as if we have learned to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat contrary to what we were famous for, said Ashok Malhotra. Added Jagdale: It was an exceptional victory because we came back from behind and this trend is quite common these days we aren’t shy of winning matches from improbable situations. Madan Lal, who was recently replaced by Kirti Azad as the North Zone selector, said Ganguly must get a lot of credit for the victory as he has transformed this young side to a winning combination by infusing a lot of self-belief in them. Sourav has injected a lot of passion among these boys. Malhotra also backed Ganguly’s way with the ‘boys’: Sourav is no Alladin with a magic lamp. He is as good as his team, Malhotra said. He speaks his mind and backs his team to the fullest. For example, when we weren’t picking Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), he would argue his case with the selection committee, saying he was convinced that Yuvraj is a world-class players and all the youngsters (Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj, Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag) that he has backed are now delivering the goods. About the selection committee’s decision to back the youngsters, Malhotra said: I think more than anything else things are falling into place. We had picked Sehwag, Yuvraj, Kaif and Zaheer more on instinct. I remember Sehwag was a certainty for the triangular series in Australia in 1999 after he got 275 in a domestic match. But Zaheer bounced him out in the next match. For that he didn’t make the trip. He went back to nets, practiced on green tops with the help of a bowling machine after that we were convinced. Likewise, when we picked Yuvraj for the mini World Cup, the then coach asked us if he could handle fast bowling; we told him he can smash it! But all four agreed that bowling is a problem, as reflected yesterday. A few things have to be sorted out, especially on the bowling front, before the World Cup Jagdale said. Malhotra added: The only worrying part is Anil Kumble’s performance. I think he has lost the bite after the shoulder injury. But let’s be fair, he has been a good bowler for India. Also, Ashish Nehra needs to be more consistent.
Friday, September 27, 2002
Thackeray threatens to quit govt
Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today threatened to pull out of the NDA government accusing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of not taking any effective action against terrorists after the massacre at Swaminarayan Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on Tuesday. "We will quit the government rather than sit and watch our country being insulted," he told a private television channel. In a reference to the terrorist attack on the Swaminarain temple in Gandhinagar, he said: "Vajpayee keeps repeating that we will not tolerate what is happening, but he does nothing. What is the use of being part of such a government.
Friday, September 27, 2002
Dacoity in Gaur Express, nine injured
Malda (WB), Sept 26 : Property worth about one lakh was looted from passengers and nine of them were injured when the general bogey of the Sealdah-bound 3154 DN Gaur Express was attacked by dacoits near Chamagram under Malda division of the Eastern railway about 30 kms away from here tonight, railway officials said today. Six of the injured were rushed to the NTPC hospital at Farakka and three of them were discharged after first aid, Dr D Sirkar of the Malda Railway Hospital told. None of them, however, was critically injured. Additional divisional railway manager Hemant Kumar said the dacoits numbering about six looted the passengers at gun point and severely beat some of them up when they protested. Two of the dacoits, however, were later overpowered by the passengers and handed over to the GRP at Farakka station, the train's first stoppage, he said adding that the rest of them managed to escape.
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Temple attack well thought out conspiracy: PM
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the terrorist attack on the Swaminarain temple was a "well thought out conspiracy" in the face of people of Jammu and Kashmir foiling attempts by terrorists and Pakistan to disrupt elections there. "First Pakistan opposed elections in J and K. Then terrorists killed candidates and innocent people but voters still turned out in large numbers risking their lives. People of J and K have given terrorists and Pakistan a fitting reply and a hard slap on their face," he said. Likewise, Vajpayee expressed confidence that people of Gujarat will thwart the designs of forces across the border in disrupting communal harmony. The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters after going round the Swaminarain temple shortly after he arrived here curtailing his visit to Maldives. "It (Tuesday's attack) seems a well thought out conspiracy. The government will get to the bottom of it with a thorough probe," he said, adding that intelligence agencies have been directed to do the job. 20:40 IST
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Attacks originate from same place: PM
Without naming Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said "some powers" were involved in the terrorist attack on the temple in Gandhinagar and this along with similar strikes in recent past were "directed from the same place." "In the recent past, there have been similar incidents of terrorist attacks and all these are being directed from the same place," the Prime Minister said on his arrival here from Maldives where he had gone on a four-day official visit. "This is not just the handiwork of two persons. Some other powers are behind it," he said. To a pointed question whether there was Pakistani hand in the attack, Vajpayee said whatever happened in Gandhinagar was being probed. Asked to comment on BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu's reported statement that Pakistan was behind the incident, he said "how can I comment on the statement of my party President". 22:02 IST
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Temple siege over, 2 terrorists, 3 commandos dead
At the crack of dawn today, elite commandos of NSG shot dead two heavily armed terrorists holed up in a bathroom ending the night-long siege of the Swaminarain temple here that claimed 31 lives with India virtually blaming Pakistan for the massacre. Three commandos--one of NSG and the other two of Gujarat police--lost their lives in the operation that waited for the first ray of light this morning for the sharp shooters to close in on the two terrorists whose identity is yet to be established. The commandos were 40-year old Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav (NSG) and Arjunsinh Laljibahi Gamiti,28, and A H Umadkar of Special Reserve Police, Gujarat. Cutting short his Maldives visit Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee flew in here and after visiting the temple described the attack as a well thought out conspiracy and vowed to get to the bottom of it. Without directly referring to Pakistan, Vajpayee said on his return to Delhi that "some powers" were behind this and other similar attacks in the recent past which were "directed from the same place." In a more forthright comment, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani noted Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's hostile reference to Gujarat in his recent U N speech and said the attack was carried out to execute the enemy's plot. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha likened the temple mayhem to December 13 Parliament attack and a series of killings by Pakistan-based terrorist outfits LeT and JeM. 22:02 IST
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Six leading CSE brokers arrested for payment default
Six leading brokers of Calcutta Stock Exchange have been arrested and remanded in police custody for their alleged role in the payment crisis at the bourse nearly one and half years ago which led to the crash of exchanges across the country. The brokers - Harish Chandra Biyani, Ramesh Chandra Biyani, Raj kumar Jain, Gopal Singhania, Vijay Singhania and Basudeo Singhania - were arrested from their residences in different parts of the metropolis late Tuesday night by sleuths of the Detective Department of Kolkata Police. The brokers were charged with indulging in circular trading and violating CSE regulations. The six were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S C Mishra today who remanded them to police custody till October four. The public prosecutor said the accused had not only violated the Calcutta Stock Exchange conditions on payment of margin and security money but also involved in circular trading to inflate prices of shares to defraud the public to the tune of Rs 1.20 billion. The arrests followed the CSE obtaining a decree from the Calcutta High Court for recovering Rs 58.2 million from D K Singhania and the filing of three civil suits and a number of other cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act against brokers for bounced cheques, as part of its initiatives to recover funds. The brokers were initially involved in default of payment of nearly Rs 150 crore in March 2001 which led to the crash in all major exchanges of the country. 18:48 IST
Thursday, September 26, 2002
India move into final of Champions Trophy
India moved into the final of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament with a 10-run victory over South Africa here today. Electing to bat, India scored 261 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs and then restricted South Africa to 251 for six. Brief Scores: India: 261-9 in 50 overs South Africa: 251-6 in 50 overs (H Gibbs 116, J Kallis 97; Sehwag 3-25, Harbhajan Singh 2-37).
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Russia asks Pak to dismantle terrorist infrastructure
Expressing deep concern and indignation at terrorist attack on Swaminarain temple in Gandhinagar, Russia today asked Islamabad to fulfil its obligations to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on Pakistani soil. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry clubbed the terrorist attack on Swaminarain temple complex and attack on Christian NGO in Karachi saying they were the links in the "vicious chain" of crimes committed by the international terrorism. The terrorists are attacking the places of worship and religious organisations to drive a wedge between different communities and the nations, it said while urging to mount a resolute action against the international terrorism. "We continue to view the activities of extremist and terrorist groups as the main cause of instability inside Pakistan itself and tension in its relations with India. We expect from Pakistan fulfilment of obligations taken by it to root out terrorist infrastructure in the country," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 22:02 IST
Thursday, September 26, 2002
BJP postpones Gaurav Yatra
A day after the terrorist attack on the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, the BJP in Gujarat tonight announced postponement of the "Gaurav Yatra" whose fourth phase was scheduled to be commence from September 28. "The fourth phase scheduled to commence from Ambaji and supposed to head towards North Gujarat has been postponed in view of the unfortunate incident at the temple premises," state unit BJP president Rajindersinh Rana told here. He said new dates would be announced within three days. The Gaurav Yatra, piloted by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, had begun on September eight and since then remained mired in a series of controversies set off by Modi's reported utterances against the minority and a diatribe against Congress President Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin. 22:02 IST
Thursday, September 26, 2002
India to deploy army in Gujarat after temple attack
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will deploy its army in Gujarat after two Muslim men attacked a temple and killed 28 people, an army spokesman said on Wednesday. The Tuesday evening raid on the temple in Gandhinagar has raised fears it could reignite religious violence in the state, which is still recovering from Hindu-Muslim bloodshed in late February and March. "One brigade of the army has been made available to state authorities for precautionary deployment," Brigadier Shruti Kant told Reuters. "Most of the soldiers have already reached the state." A brigade consists of about 3,000 soldiers. K.R. Kaushik, police commissioner in Ahmedabad, told Reuters the soldiers were on standby and would patrol the city on Thursday. At least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died in a wave of reprisal killings after a Muslim mob attacked a train and burned 59 Hindus to death in late February. The Bharatiya Janata Party government, which rules the state, was accused of not doing enough to prevent the killings of Muslims -- charges it denies.
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Tight security blanket across the country
New Delhi, Sep 25 Security has been beefed around major religious places, VIP areas and vital installations across the country today even as army was deployed in sensitive areas of Gujarat to thwart any communal backlash in the wake of terrorist attack at the Swaminarayan temple in Gandhinagar. An army brigade of around 3,000 personnel was put in place in sensitive areas of Gujarat early morning as part of "precautionary deployment", while the RSS headquarters at Nagpur and Delhi's Jhandewalan office were brought under a tight security dragnet. Security was beefed up around the temples of the Swaminarayan sect in different parts of the country, besides important pilgrim centres like Tirupati, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Mathura, among others. Besides Gujarat, several states including Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were put under high alert hours after the Gandhinagar shootout began last evening. In the national capital, security in and around other government buildings, particularly the VVIP areas and the Diplomatic Enclave, have also been tightened with intense patrolling, increased number of barricades and additional deployment of police and paramilitary personnel. With a statewide 'bandh' called by Congress in Gujarat and the VHP-sponsored nationwide 'bandh' call tomorrow, extra vigil was mounted in communally-fragile areas to avoid any backlash of yesterday's incident.
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Red alert sounded in southern states
Chennai, Sept 25 Police in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Pondicherry, have been put on "red alert" and security in sensitive areas including some of the temples have been beefed up in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attack on Swaminarain temple in Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Tamil Nadu Director General of Police B P Nailwal, told that the "police will be on red alert and strict vigil maintained at all places of religious worship". He said orders had been issued to Commissioners and District Superintendents of Police to be on high alert and round-the-clock vigil to ensure no unoward incident takes place in the state. A Tirupati report said the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here was kept under constant surveillance by police since the wee hours of today. The security at the toll gate at the foothills was tightened and strict vigil on the movement of the pilgrims' vehicular traffic was being kept. In Karnataka, DGP V V Bhaskar had instructed all the District SPs and range Inspector Generals of Police and the four commissionerates to supervise security arrangements, even as a red alert was sounded statewide. Police had been asked to provide security to religious places of worship in vulnerable areas across the state and to intensify police picketing and patrolling. Similarly in Kerala, police have been put on red alert and had been asked to exercise strict vigil. Condemning the temple incident, Chief Minister A K Antony told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting that his government viewed incident "very seriously" and asked all sections of the people to exercise restraint and maintain social harmony. Antony described the incident as "heinous and brutal". Meanwhile, DGP K J Joseph, said police had been to be vigilant "though we do not expect the Gujarat incident to have repurcussions in Kerala. So we are not over-reacting to it. Still we are not taking chances", he said. At Pondicherry, Senior Superintendent of Police Anandha Mohan, told reporters that security had been strengthened in the four regions of Pondicherry, Mahe, Karaikal and Yanam, particularly in sensitive areas including places of worship.
Thursday, September 26, 2002
Kolkata's Swaminarayan Temple immerses in prayer, mourning
Kolkata, Sep 25 Hundreds of people Wednesday poured into the Swaminarayan temple here to pray for peace and mourn those killed in a terrorist attack on the sect's headquarters in Gujarat. The local temple has been receiving a steady stream of visitors, mostly members of the affluent Gujarati community, since news spread of Tuesday's terrorist attack in Gandhinagar's 23-acre Swaminarayan Temple. An 18th century monk founded the Swaminarayan sect, which has about 450 temples by the same name across 45 countries. The sect has a large following in eastern India. Two unidentified terrorists stormed the temple in Gandhinagar Tuesday, opened indiscriminate fire from automatic weapons and lobbed hand grenades, killing 25 people and injuring about 100. An elite commando force Wednesday shot dead the attackers after a 14-hour gun battle. The news of the attack has numbed the monks of the temple here who are trying frantically to contact their superiors in Gandhinagar. "We can't get through to the headquarters as the telephone lines appear to have been cut off," Swami Divyamurti, the chief priest of the Kolkata temple located at an upscale southern neighbourhood, told . "We are worried about the devotees and the monks." People from various faiths are crowding the temple here to pray for peace and as a mark of solidarity. They were seen walking into the temple silently, some hol |
