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Saturday,
October 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Japan,
France welcome J&K poll process EC pays
tribute to voters CPI happy
at BJP rout in J&K Natwar Singh for talks with Pakistan Man
arrested for threatening PM JP Narayan
centenary celebrations begin
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100 held after 5 killed in violence during bandh USA to
‘ensure’ Salem’s return
Mayawati
inducts 56 new ministers VHP
hails ordinance on conversion Sharma’s properties released Set up foundation after Patel: Sonia
IFFI no
longer attracts cinegoers
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Japan, France welcome J&K poll process New Delhi, October 11 Australia noted that the Jammu and Kashmir elections were viewed informally from a range of diplomatic missions in New Delhi, including the Australian High Commission. A spokesperson for the Australian High Commission noted that the process was conducted in difficult circumstances, including terrorist violence and added: “We condemn terrorist attacks which were aimed at intimidating the Kashmiri people and disrupting election process.” Australia hoped that the successful conclusion of the elections would prepare ground for the early resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan towards resolving all outstanding issues, including Kashmir and a
further reduction of tensions.” France, while condemning terrorist violence, complimented the determination and steps taken by the Indian Government in completing the poll process “despite the difficult conditions”. “This democratic consultation represents an important event. We hope that it will promote a dialogue with all parties concerned with the Kashmir situation and will thus contribute towards a peaceful solution to this crisis,” a French Foreign Ministry statement said. Japan lauded the Election Commission and the voters for the poll despite “a number of terrorist disturbances”. Japan’s Foreign Office Press Secretary said his country hoped that a dialogue between India and Pakistan resumed soon. The U S and Britain had welcomed the successful completion of J and K polls yesterday. |
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EC pays tribute to voters New Delhi, October 11 “The cacophony of the hustings over, the Election Commission of India would like to pay a special tribute to the voter of Jammu and Kashmir who has kept faith with democracy through endless tribulations,” the commission said in a statement. It also paid a tribute to “the indomitable candidate who in one constituency was assassinated, the undemanding, unsleeping jawan, military, paramilitary and the police, cheerfully paying with their lives to protect candidates and polling parties and polling officers, often a stranger from Uttar Pradesh or Punjab, survived IED, grenade and bullets and at times forfeited their lives in the line of duty.” Gratitude was also expressed to the intrepid mediaperson who not only treaded every possible danger but truthfully and creatively communicated the “historic” events of the elections to distant audience, and members of foreign diplomatic corps who took to every part of the state carefully picking up the facts with the youthful enthusiasm of a 19th century explorer. |
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CPI happy at BJP rout in J&K New Delhi, October 11 In Jammu region, the Jammu State Morcha, floated by the BJP and the RSS had been rejected and people refused to fall prey to the divisive demand of trifurcation of the state on communal lines, the CPI central secretariat said in a press note here. The CPI asked the NDA government to evolve a comprehensive policy on Kashmir based on national consensus. On the poor performance of the National Conference (NC), the Left Party said the people had punished it for its “unprincipled and unholy alliance with the communal BJP...It is also a strong protest against the widespread corruption and nepotism that had become the hallmark of the six-year NC rule.” |
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Natwar Singh for talks with Pakistan Chandigarh, October 11 He said it would have been better if both India and the EU had prepared a resolution well in advance after holding discussions on the broad contours of the issues to be mentioned in the documents to be adopted following the dialogue. Yesterday, in his opening remarks during the dialogue, the Chairman of the EU, Mr A.F. Rasmussen, not only made critical remarks regarding India’s missile tests but also advocated a negotiated settlement between India and Pakistan and also starting a direct dialogue with that country ( Pakistan). Mr Natwar Singh said such a situation would not have arisen, if the Prime Minister and his delegation members had gone prepared. He said in fact, the Prime Minister and his associates had no time for such preparations because of the ongoing fighting within his own party. He said the Government should open a dialogue with Pakistan at the earliest possible. If it was not possible at the top level, then the talks should be started at the Joint Secretary-level. He said after a comprehensive victory for democracy in J and K, doors should be opened to resume broad-based talks on issues such as trade, drugs, AIDS, nuclear doctrine and commerce etc with Pakistan. He said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had a closed mind. his comments regarding elections in Kashmir were a trash.
Successful elections in Kashmir had proved that no freedom struggle was
going on in any part of the country. |
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Man arrested for threatening PM New Delhi, October 11 He telephoned a judge of the Supreme Court, Abhijeet Passaya at 10 am and threatened that he would kill the Prime Minister. The phone was received by the PA of the judge who informed the police about the call. The call was traced from Sangam Vihar, police said. Manu Singh was arrested in the afternoon from his house in Sangam Vihar. During interrogation it was found that he was mentally retarded and belonged to a poor family. He lived in the Capital along with his wife and children and they are all mentally healthy. |
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JP Narayan centenary celebrations begin New Delhi, October 11 The Vice-President said the socialist leader’s achievements in public life reflected stress on the implementation of programmes like Antyodaya schemes for the uplift of the common man. Describing “JP” as a crusader for democracy, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said: “He led the movement against the dark days of the Emergency and brought it to its logical conclusion in 1977, when people thought there was no end in sight.” On the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir elections, Mr Advani said: “Though my party (BJP) did not win them, it does not matter who won or lost. The fact is that India has won and democracy has triumphed in these elections in the face of heightened terrorist violence”. Former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar said the ideals of “JP” were being put into practice by Nanaji Deshmukh in Chitrakoot, where democratic institutions were being strengthened at the grassroots level. The Vice-President, who earlier inaugurated a photo-exhibition on JP’s life and times, also released commemorative coins of Rs 100, Rs 10 and Re 1 on the occasion. Among those present at the function were Nanaji Deshmukh, Union Ministers Jagmohan, Ram Naik and Ravi Shankar Prasad, besides Congress leaders Manmohan Singh and Shivraj Patil. |
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100 held after 5 killed in violence during bandh Solapur, October 11 Five persons were killed, three in police firing and two in stabbing incidents, and 66 injured as arson and violence marred a shutdown in this textile town of Maharashtra to protest US Baptist Minister Jerry Falwel’s reported remarks against Prophet Mohammed, prompting authorities to clamp curfew. The police opened fire as mobs resorted to arson and heavy stone-pelting during the bandh called by minority community, official sources said. State Police Control Room sources in Mumbai said three persons perished in police firing while two were left dead in violence.
PTI
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USA to ‘ensure’ Salem’s return Bangalore, October 11 “A lasting settlement, which also reflects the needs of the Kashmiri people, can only be achieved through dialogue,” US Ambassador to India Robert D. Blackwill said while reading out a statement here giving the Bush administration’s reaction to the Jammu and Kashmir poll. Mr Blackwill said US Law Enforcement agencies were coordinating with India in trying to ensure the “return” of underworld don Abu Salem.
PTI |
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Mayawati inducts 56 new ministers
Lucknow, October 11 Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnukant Shastri administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the sprawling lawns of the Raj Bhavan, Of the 57 new ministers, 56 are members of the Vidhan Sabha. BJP’s Babu Singh, who took oath today, is from Vidhan Parishad. Of the 12 Cabinet ministers inducted today, five are from the BSP, four from the BJP, two from the LCP and one from the RLD. They are Prem Lata Katiyar, Phagu Chauhan, Rajesh Agarwal and Mahindra Singh Yadav (all BJP), Babu Singh Kushwaha, Gaya Charan Dinkar, Ram Shankar Pal, R. K. Singh Patel and Raj Kishore Singh (all BSP), LCP’s Hari Shankar Tewari and Shyam Sunder Sharma and RLD’s Ved Ram Bhati.
PTI |
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VHP hails ordinance on conversion New Delhi, October 11 “The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversions Ordinance issued by the Tamil Nadu Government is a very bold decision taken by the state Chief Minister J.
Jayalalithaa,” VHP international working president Ashok Singhal told mediapersons here. Maintaining that the mass conversion going on in Tamil Nadu by “fraud, force and allurement” compelled Ms Jayalalithaa to take this “appropriate and constitutional step”, Mr Singhal said it was “unfortunate and condemnable that the Archbishop of Chennai has
threatened to close down all Christian educational institutions. |
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Sharma’s properties released New Delhi, October 11 At present he is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail. Metropolitan Magistrate J.P. Narayan today directed the police to release the properties of suspended Haryana IGP of Prisons which were attached to pressurise him to surrender. However, he surrendered before the Ambala court from where he was brought to Delhi. |
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Set up foundation after Patel: Sonia New Delhi, October 11 In a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, she said at a time when disruptive forces were seeking to undermine India’s unity and integrity, the life and work of Sardar Patel could provide a powerful inspiration for people to meet the challenge. The government should take early action for establishment of such a foundation and all political parties should be involved in setting up and managing the foundation. |
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Amitabh whips up mass hysteria
Mumbai, October 11 There was a virtual hysteria as the Big B, dressed in a simple white apparel, arrived at the gate to accept the greetings of fans and well-wishers. Amitabh Bachchan, who had arrived from Tirupathi early morning, thanked them for the overwhelming response. Huge sprays of crimson roses, laminated portraits of the star, photographs of Amitabh and his family, small mementoes and hosts of birthday cards scribbled with messages and personal appreciation, made their way to the Bachchan household even as a leading television channel carried one line birthday messages from his fans all over the country. Special supplements of dailies, enlisting the star’s achievements and tracing his slow but steady rise to stardom, and with huge photographs of the star in various poses, hit the stands today. “To be or not to be Amitabh Bachchan” a book which chronicles the life and times of the star, was released by Bachchan’s granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda here today. The entire Bachchan family, Rajan and Ritu Nanda of Escorts Limited, Randhir, Babita and Karisma Kapoor and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh were among those present at the book release function at a suburban hotel. Bachchan cut the birthday cake and signed the 400-page book written by film critic and director Khalid Mohammad and published by veteran actress and his wife Jaya Bachchan. TIRUPATI: Earlier in the morning Amitabh Bachchan, also attended a 90-minute long ‘celestial bath’ (Abishekam) conducted on the presiding deity Lord Venkateswara, at the hill shrine of Tirupati. The ceremony was attended among others by the actor’s wife Jaya Bachchan and well known industrialist Anil Ambani and his wife. The Bachchans also offered prayers last night.
PTI, UNI |
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IFFI no longer attracts cinegoers New Delhi, October 11 There could be a number of reasons for this. For one thing the two-and-a-half year hibernation period may have been a part of the reason. Then, many other cities like Mumbai and Calcutta are having their own festivals. Bollywood’s participation too is getting thinner. As for the foreign film personalities that has been a thing of the past for some years now. For real connoisseurs of cinema this year the retrospectives and reflections were the icing on the cake. The French films, included those by New Wave experts like Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut and Eric Rohmer. Then there was a tribute to Italian star Marcello Mastroianni, plus some good German and Brazilian films but as we’ve seen many of them one tends to focus on the Cinema of the World and in this there were more bad films than good. May be IFFI has to change its method of selecting them. They have no business to bring sub-standard stuff like “Mallboy” (Australia) and “Fancy Rains” (Sri Lanka) or “Bongja” (South Korea). The feedback they get on films through their publicity and foreign film experts is not quite right. Actually why are not some of the better new Indian films included in the Cinema of the World? It is time the Indian Panorama was merged in the Cinema of the World but one must be more selective, choose only 10 current year’s films. One may have another 10 Indian films of lesser quality to go around all cities in the name of Indian Panorama. For me the films which stood out in Cinema of the World are “Bemani” (Iran), “Dancer in the Dark” (Denmark), “The Placard” (France) and to some extent “Under the Skin of the City” (Iran). Most of the others were middling, not really festival stuff. European cinema is of a higher quality and French films are a sure bet. May be one has to be more selective about Asian films. Also the haphazard manner in which the press conferences are arranged is appalling. The Open Forum too is very poorly attended. As for the facilities at the theatres it is amazing how doors are left open and the light flows in making viewing of film quite an unpleasant exercise. Then groups barging in only for the steamy sex scenes has to be curbed. In this I think the government servants are most to blame. Ms Deepak Sandhu made an effort to interact with the press but it seemed an honest effort but one can’t help feeling it was too little too late. When asked about a press report that the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) was thinking of making Goa a permanent venue for the Festival she said she was not aware of it. That surely is good news because everyone seems to rush to Goa as a fun place. Probably they are not aware that Goa is totally bereft of a film culture. There are hardly two good cinema halls in all of Goa. The trouble is that today the festival has become a status symbol and a good many of the real cinema enthusiasts and buffs are not able to find their way in. It is time the IFFI did a complete overhaul of the procedure. That they have the right know-how there is no doubt. With so many festivals they are bound to improve. It is the criteria for selection of films and the management at the theatres that must improve. Otherwise, the slide will continue and this would be very bad for cinema. |
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B.K. Roy new
Chief Justice
New Delhi, October 11 The appointment will be with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office, an official statement today said.
PTI |
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Kasturirangan
gets extension New Delhi, October 11 |
SUSHMA MOURNS KWATRA’S DEATH ONE HANGED
TO DEATH STOLEN KHAJURAHO IDOL RECOVERED PLEA TO END NAKED PARADING OF WOMEN |
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In video: Though the BJP has not done well in Jammu and Kashmir
elections, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani says it is victory
of India and democracy. (
