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Terror not discussed with Pak PM, says Khurshid 

JAIPUR: External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday hosted a lunch for Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf but did not discuss issues like terrorism with him.

"This was a private visit. It was a pilgrimage (for Ashraf). This was not the occasion nor did I have the authority to discuss such issues," he told reporters after the lunch at Rambagh Palace Hotel here.

He was replying to a question whether terrorism was discussed with his guest.

"We have taken up such issues. We will do it in future. Today it was a private visit. There was no official talk. We will do it at the appropriate time," Khurshid said.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Bikram Singh on Saturday declined to comment on the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to India against the backdrop of unease over the killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan army.

"It (visit of Pakistan PM) is a political decision... let's not make an issue out of it. Let the government take the decision. Being an Army Chief, I would not like to comment on it," Singh told reporters.

He was asked to comment on Ashraf's visit to India.

However, he said the Indian Army had already conveyed its concern to the Centre on the issue of ceasefire violations, beheading of an Indian soldier and brutal killing of another soldier by Pakistani troops in January.

"At that time, we showed our concern...We have shown our emotions (to the Centre)," the Army chief, who was here to attend the War Decorated India Triennial National Convention cum Reunion, said.

He said the Indian Army was giving a "befitting" reply to any ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.

"If they (Pak troops) violate ceasefire, hum bhi churian pehan ke nahin baithe hain (we are not wearing bangles). Our men also fire. This work is done at the tactical level and it is happening," he asserted.

"This action (reacting to ceasefire violations) is seen at the lower level and not decided at the Army Chief's level," he pointed out.

On the strengthening of road infrastructure near Tibet by China, the Army chief said India is also undertaking infrastructure development in its territory.

"China is carrying out development in its own area, we are doing in our area. Infrastructure development is an ongoing process. Each country does it," he said.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Singh asked ex-servicemen to remain apolitical having been part of the disciplined force.

"I want that our ex-servicemen associations should not get politicised. We need to be disciplined. I am seeing that ex-servicemen associations are becoming political. It should not happen. We are secular and it is important, he asserted. — PTI

Drug haul case: Accused attempts suicide; no decision on quizzing Vijender

CHANDIGARH: One of the key accused in the drug haul case from Zirakpur allegedly attempted suicide, even as Punjab Police maintained that no decision has been taken yet on summoning boxer Vijender Singh after the Olympic medallist's name cropped up.

"The key accused Anup Singh Kahlon attempted suicide. He took out a wire from the bucket used for bathing and tried to slit his wrist with it, but he is out of danger," Fatehgarh Sahib's senior superintendent of police, H S Mann said on Saturday.

The accused was safe and provided medical aid, the SSP said, adding that no major injury was sustained in the suicide attempt.

Kahlon, an NRI, would now be booked for attempt to suicide.

Asked if Vijender Singh, who hails from Haryana's Bhiwani district, would be questioned, the SSP said, "we haven't taken any final decision on summoning him."

He said investigation in the case was under progress as the six accused arrested so far were being interrogated. Based on their revelations further course of action would be decided, the SSP said.

"We are investigating the case. As of now, no decision on Vijender Singh has been taken. All aspects of the case are being investigated. We have not decided on calling him yet," he said.

However, police are probing the role of Vijender's fellow pugilist Ram Singh, he said, adding that Ram had been asked to help the investigators again on Saturday.

Asked about reports that Ram, a native of Patiala, purportedly confessed that he had taken heroin at least six times from the arrested peddlers and consumed it with Vijender, the SSP said, "we are verifying these. I cannot comment further at this stage."

Vijender, 27, a Haryana Police DSP rank officer, has trashed allegations that he has links with the alleged NRI drug dealer arrested by the Punjab Police, saying the "ridiculous charges" would be proved wrong in investigations.

Police had recovered 26 kg of heroin, estimated around Rs Rs 130 crore, from Kahlon's house in Shivalik Vihar in Zirakpur on the city outskirts in Mohali district on Thursday. The car of Vijender's wife Archana was found by police near the NRI's house. — PTI

Absconding Odisha rapist held in Kerala

Kannur (Kerala): Bitti Mohanty, the absconding son of former Odisha DGP BB Mohanty, who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for raping a 26-year-old German national in 2006, has been taken into custody by Kerala Police here.

According to police sources, Bitti was working in a public sector bank in the district impersonating as a recruit from Andhra Pradesh.

Police were tipped off about the presence of Bitti here after an anonymous letter was received by the bank branch authorities expressing suspicion that the man claiming to be from Andhra Pradesh could be Bitti.

What exposed Bitti was that his photo was among the pictures of accused in various sex crimes shown by television channels and floated on the Internet in the wake of the Delhi gangrape incident, the sources said.

Bitti was convicted for raping a German woman at Alwar in Rajasthan in 2006 and had been absconding after his release on parole the same year.

Kerala Police has intimated Rajasthan Police of the matter.

A team of Rajasthan Police is expected to arrive here this afternoon to confirm the identity of the absconder, after which the arrest would be recorded, sources said.

Former DGP BB Mohanty was suspended for allegedly helping his son jump parole, only to be reinstated by the Odisha government in May 2009. A year later he retired with all benefits - maintaining that his escaped son might be dead.

Nicolas Maduro sworn in as Venezuelan President

CARACAS: Nicolas Maduro was sworn in Friday as Venezuela’s acting President, using the occasion to launch blistering attacks on the US as well as the political opposition, which objected that the ceremony violated the country’s Constitution.

Late President Hugo Chavez designated Maduro as his successor before he died Tuesday of cancer. Maduro had been Chavez’s Vice-President.

The country’s 1999 Constitution says the National Assembly speaker becomes interim President in the event of a President-elect’s death or inability to be sworn in. The constitution also says a presidential election should be called within 30 days.

Maduro has been picked as the presidential candidate of Chavez’s socialist party.

Opposition leader Angel Medina said earlier Friday that the Opposition would boycott the swearing-in ceremony, and the vast majority of Opposition legislators did not attend. Former US presidential candidate, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, attended the ceremony as did Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.

Stray fireworks exploded above the capital of Caracas as soon as Maduro was sworn in as President.

Both Maduro and National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello pledged to follow Chavez’s example and push his socialist-inspired agenda.

“I swear by the most absolute loyalty to comrade Hugo Chavez that we will fulfil and see that it’s fulfilled the constitution ... with the iron fist of a people ready to be free,” Maduro said.

“We tell them — sooner than later, the imperialist elites who govern the US will have to learn to live with absolute respect with the insurrectional people of the ... Latin and Caribbean America,” he said.

Maduro also claimed the allegiance of Venezuela’s army, calling it “the armed forces of Chavez” as he pumped his fist in the air, a gesture that was reciprocated by the Defence Minister watching from the gallery. Critics have voiced increasing concern about the overt support the military has shown to the ruling party since Chavez’s death, despite a ban on the army’s participation in politics.

Shortly before the swearing-in, opposition leader Henrique Capriles said Maduro had used Chavez’s funeral earlier in the day to campaign for the presidency. Capriles is widely expected to run against Maduro in the coming vote.

A former bus driver and union leader, Maduro had served as Chavez’s Foreign Minister and was often seen on television accompanying the President during cancer treatments in Cuba. Chavez named Maduro his No. 2 after winning his third re-election in October last year.

Since the death, Maduro was seen Wednesday leading a massive funeral cortege through the streets of Caracas as well as welcoming foreign dignitaries and delivering the eulogy at Friday’s funeral. — AP

Saina enters semis of All-England title

Birmingham: Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal inched closer to her dream of winning the prestigious All-England Championship as the Indian advanced to the semifinals with a thrilling three-game victory over former world number one Shixian Wang of China in the women's singles competition in Birmingham on Saturday.

The world number three Saina retrieved everything thrown at her and engaged her rival into long rallies to eventually prevail 23-21, 19-21, 21-16 over Shixian in an hour and 14 minutes match to equal her exploits at the 2010 edition of the $400,000 Super series event.

The Hyderabadi will next take on the winner between fourth seed German Juliane Schenk and eight seed Thai Ratchanok Intanon on Sunday.

However, world number nine Parupalli Kashyap's quest to move further up was cut short by second seed Chen Long as the Chinese notched up a 21-16 21-10 win in the men's singles competition.