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Putin for biotech, IT pacts with India Nagma in Cong corridors
Cong fields Phoolan’s husband from Akbarpur
Disaster stares Jharkhand
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Crucial SC ruling on framing of charges
Case fabricated, says Mann
Gutkha firm owners under scanner
Challenging the
Hollywood hegemony
Quake predicted in Assam on Dec 12
BBMB releases water to Rajasthan
Mutt officials grilled
Cop arrested on rape charge
3 killed as car falls into gorge
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Putin for biotech, IT pacts with India Bangalore, December 4 Speaking at a dinner meeting organised by the CII and FICCI, he also stressed the continued cooperation in science, space and atomic energy, and oil and gas. “The tremendous potential that exists has not been tapped in full measure.” The Indian industry should also look at Russian expertise in information security, which, he said, had attained “world renown.” Science and technology cooperation should progress with the aim of “jointly marketing hi-tech products,” he added. He expressed happiness at India’s recognition of Russia as a market economy and efforts were continuously on to improve the business environment there, he said. Visa issues between the two countries would be resolved, he stated. He foresaw cooperation in setting up a North-South International Transport Corridor that would transform the Eurasian space. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, Indian IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran, and Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh were present at the meeting. Mr Putin is scheduled to visit Infosys and HAL here on Sunday. At HAL, he will witness flight displays of the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) the LCA Tejas, and the Advanced Light Helicopter. Russia is interested in combining Russian strengths in R&D and “high-end programming” with Indian strengths in the IT service sector for enhanced co-operation in the information technology arena, Mr Leonid Reiman, Russian Minister for Communications and Information Technology, said here today. A special working group between the two countries were already in discussion and “a general agreement” would be signed as a first step next year, he said. Indian IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran will visit Russia in the first half of next year. The minister is leading a delegation of around 20 Russian companies, who had a “roundtable” with their Indian counterparts here today. Russia was interested in augmenting its software exports, which were currently worth around $ 0.5 bn, and the Indian examples, both in terms of government support and private sector initiative, were being studied in that regard, he said. |
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Nagma in Cong corridors New Delhi, December 4 But, as it happens, Nagma has managed to grab more than her share of headlines. She shot into limelight some years ago because of her alleged involvement with Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. She was back in the news when she joined the Congress to pursue a career in politics. In fact, there had even been talk of her contesting the Lok Sabha poll earlier this year. Little wonder then that she created a bit of a stir today when she dropped in at the Congress headquarters to meet AICC general secretary Ambika Soni. She was unfazed when escorted into a roomful of mediapersons and was quick to put them on the defensive with her opening line: “Have you come to meet me or just see me?” After that it was a long monologue, interspersed with a few questions thrown in by the mediapersons. Yes, she says, she is more than willing to contest the Lok Sabha poll as and when the party gives her the opportunity to. As for a Rajya Sabha seat, she smiles: “I think, I am too young for it.” Till then, she looks forward to a productive role in the party organisation, whether it is in the women’s wing or her involvement in the election campaign. “If the party wants me to campaign in the Bihar and Jharkhand elections, I will be more than willing to do so,” she says and then goes on to explain: “As actors, we are used to travelling to remote places and for long periods.” Although still a political novice, Nagma appears to have imbibed the Congress culture. In true party style, she is all praise for Congress president Sonia Gandhi, especially the way she withstood the personal attack against her and her renunciation of the Prime Minister’s post. She is equally impressed with Rahul Gandhi, describing him as a “very bright leader”. So, does she see him as a future Prime Minister? The answer is swift: “I do.” Similarly, her reason for choosing the Congress over other parties is also politically correct: “The Congress is a secular party... and I believe in secularism,” she says. Besides active politics, Nagma’s teaching assignment with “Art of Living” keeps her occupied. Nevertheless, she is not averse to doing films. “Films are a great way of communicating with people.... Since my first movie ‘Baaghi’, which dealt with social issues, I have always been interested in these subjects,” she adds. On marriage, she says: “Marriage is so boring.... Everybody gets married, some day everybody has to get married. As it is, the country has a huge population, why add to it,” she shrugs and then adds: “In any case, there is no stopping two persons having a relationship.” |
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Cong fields Phoolan’s husband from Akbarpur
Lucknow, December 4 Mr Ummed Singh had harboured political ambitions even while his wife was alive. It, however, came out in sharp relief when Phoolan Devi’s sister, Munni Devi, and he fought over Phoolan’s political legacy in the days following her murder. Joining the Congress two years ago, he was the Congress candidate for the Basti parliamentary seat during the May Lok Sabha elections and polled 1.20 lakh votes. Despite the Congress making its presence felt during Salman Khurshid’s road show last month and in the Vidhan Sabha last week over the Urdu University Bill, observers feel that the main fight will still be between the SP and the BSP once again during the byelections to the Mainpuri and Akbarpur Lok Sabha seats, both scheduled for December 20.
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Disaster stares Jharkhand
New Delhi, December 4 A press note issued by a television channel alleges the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a nodal government undertaking entrusted with the task of mining uranium for India's nuclear programme, is not functioning in conformity with any national or international safety and environment norms. The story, to be aired from December 6, has been shot in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, and shows that more than 50,000 persons in the area have been directly affected by high dosages of radioactive contamination. As per the note, the radioactivity level in the area is 100 times the laid down standards and thousand of people in the region are suffering from birth defects, congenital deformities, tuberculosis, cancer and other ailments directly associated with exposure to high levels of radioactive radiation. The contamination, it says, is at three levels-air, water and soil. The radon gas emitted as the result of mining has affected the air quality in the region while the radioactive water has been contaminating the stream which passes into the Seberna Rekha river that passes through Jharkhand, WestBengal and Orissa. The soil, says the note, has been contaminated due to unregulated disposal of more than four million tonnes of radioactive waste in the region, which is surrounded by villages. The UCIL Chairman and Managing Director Ramender Gupta has, however, denied the allegations saying that the mining and the waste disposal was being carried out as per laid-down norms. |
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Crucial SC ruling on framing of charges
New Delhi, December 4 Such a provision in fact would amount to a “mini trial” before the framing of charges, three-judge Bench of Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice D M Dharmadhikari and Mr Justice Tarun Chatterjee held, reversing the earlier ruling of a two-judge Bench. Legal experts say that the ruling would be a big blow to high-profile accused, including politicians and bureaucrats, who resist “tooth and nail” the framing of charges in cases against them on the ground that there was no material evidence. In the earlier ruling, the apex court had held that the doors could not be closed by trial court for accused to produce the material evidence at the charge-framing stage as it would clinch the issue and save a lot of time of the court to go into long trial. The argument on the defence side was that Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (protection against arrest and detention) required to give a fair opportunity to the accused to produce material evidence in his defence at the charge-framing stage. “We are unable to accept the aforesaid contention. The reliance on Articles 14 and 21 is misplaced. The scheme of the CrPC and object with which Section 227 was incorporated in it and Sections 207 and 207 (A) omitted, have already been noticed,” the Bench said. “At the stage of framing of charges roving and fishing inquiry is impremissible. If the contention of the accused, is accepted, there would be a mini trial at the stage of the framing of charges, That would defeat the object of the CrPC,” the Bench ruled. The court made it clear that it was a well-settled law that at the stage of the framing of charges, the defence of the accused “cannot” be put forth. The ruling came on an appeal by the Orissa Government in a murder case. It further said accepting defence evidence at the charge-framing stage, “has never been the intention of the law, which is well settled for over hundred years now.” “If any document is necessary or desirable for the defence of the accused, the question of invoking Section 91 of the CrPC (dealing with production of defence evidence) at the initial stage of the framing of a charge would not arise since defence of the accused is not relevant at that stage,” the court observed. The court said when Section 91 referred to investigation, inquiry, trial or other proceedings, it was to be borne in mind that a police officer might move the court for summoning and production of documents as might be necessary at any stage and the accused would only be entitled to seek the production of defence evidence only at the stage of trial. |
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Case fabricated, says Mann
New Delhi, December 4 Deposing before Additional Sessions Judge D.S. Pawriya, Mr Mann alleged that police, on instructions from the Centre, had lodged the case against him as he was raising his voice to save Sikhs from persecution by the government during militancy in Punjab. He denied that he had delivered an alleged anti-national speech at the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara here on April 7, 1991 instigating Sikhs to raise their voice. “The voice in the cassette, which was played in the court on September 15, does not belong to me,” he said. It was my political and moral duty to raise my voice. The central and state governments did not want me to raise my voice, he said. “This case was lodged to stifle my voice,” he added. The police alleged Mr Mann, a former Lok Sabha MP, in his speech, had allegedly backed the creation of Khalisthan and said those who opposed its creation would meet the fate of Mrs Indira Gandhi and General A.S. Vaidya. The court had framed charges of sedition on February 22, 2003 and slapped TADA on him for supporting the cause of a separate state through his address.
— UNI |
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Gutkha firm owners under scanner
Mumbai, December 4 The police here has questioned relatives and associates of Rasik Dhariwal, proprietor of Manikchand gutkha and J.M. Joshi, who sells Goa brand of gutkha, for more information of their whereabouts. Both of them are said to be out of the country. The police says they have provided money and technology to the gangster. Dawood is now said to be in Pakistan with his own brand of “Fire Gutkha” in that country, the police say. Police officials said here that both businessmen were entangled in a dispute for more than a decade and approached Dawood to sort out the matter. Both went to Karachi where the matter was sorted out. On the way back they stopped in Karachi and met Dawood Ibrahim. The don mediated successfully between them. The police is also questioning a number of machinery exporters who have allegedly sold machinery to manufacture gutkha. The machines were allegedly exported to Pakistan from Mumbai and Gujarat. |
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Challenging the
Hollywood hegemony
Panaji (Goa), December 4 Even the Ambassador of Italy in India, Mr Antonio Armellini, says as much. His country is going in for creative movies with a social background to challenge the mega-budget US juggernaut. Besides, it will co-produce films with countries like India that have a strong film background to ensure diversity and to enrich each other. An agreement that the two countries propose to sign will help exchange films for television and also help film producers to seek cooperation during shooting. New Indian films like “Monsoon Wedding” are very popular in Italy although the same cannot be said about older films. Not many know that there is a specialised film festival in Florence solely devoted to Indian movies. Italy, which makes about 100 films every year, has the strongest presence at the IFFI this year. While there are seven films in the Cinema of the World section, there is also a retrospective of actor-director Vittoriao Grossman, besides films spanning 40 years of Italian cinema in the DVD section. *** Norwegian and Croatian filmmakers are also fighting a losing battle against the Hollywood influence. In both countries, the state gives 80 per cent of the cost of film-making as loan after clearing scripts. Norway is, perhaps, one of the world’s richest countries today after the discovery of oil and is becoming as materialistic as the US, leading to a curious dilemma, portrayed through “Chlorox, Ammonia and Coffee” being shown here. This popular black comedy is marked by its strong emotional content. Croatia, which makes only about 10 feature films a year, is represented by Branko Ivanda’s “The Horseman”. This remarkable film is a love story interspersed with fierce conflicts, unfettered passions, machinations and cruelty during a valiant fight for survival. It appeals mainly because of universality of its narrative. The Director-General of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), Mr Bertrand Moullier, can sense the strengths and weaknesses of a film festival from a mile because he classifies, grades and accredits them. He has a very simple formula for the IFFI: “Have less of babudom, more of basics”. His organisation rates festivals on following parameters: safety, infrastructure, organisational efficiency, logistics, management, anti-piracy measures and the freshness of films. Before rushing to Cairo for another festival, he has already typed out his observations on the IFFI. The exact evaluation will be known only when it is formally presented, but during informal chats with mediamen, he dropped enough hints about what is in the air. To make it a great festival, there has to be less of carnival and more of good cinema. Second, instead of making a fuss about government officials who throng the venues, it is the filmmakers who should be treated as VVIPs. The selection of films should be done by committed film producers coordinating with their counterparts in other countries instead of government officials. Luckily, he has found Goa to be a fantastic venue, with little travelling involved between the venues and the INOX multiplex cinema completely state of the art. “The IFFI needs a full-fledged secretariat that works throughout the year instead of coming alive just two weeks before the festival,” he says. Anyone listening? *** While big stars come in with stifling security and also airs, the lesser actors have won many a heart with their easy approachability. Boman Irani who has come into the limelight through “Munnabhai, MBBS” mingles around freely despite being mobbed excessively. Similarly, Rita Bhaduri, who attends almost every festival without fail, dresses in simple clothes and stands in queues like everyone else. |
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Quake predicted in Assam on Dec 12
Hyderabad, December 4 N. Venkatanathan said a theory developed by his group indicates that the quake might occur around 6 am with its epicenter located at 26.91° North latitude and94.49 East longitute with an error of one degree. This puts
it about 100 km west southwest of Dibrugarh. Besides himself, the paper presented at the
conference was authored by Dr N Rajeswar Rao, Dr K.K. Sharma and Dr PPeriakali, all belonging to the Department of Applied Geologyat the university. Assam was one of the eight regions where earthquake was likely to be triggered around that time, he said. Other likely locations were in Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, Banda sea, the Solomon Islands, San Francisco and the Gulf of California. According to their theory, the alignment of the earth
with the sun, moon and two or more planets along more or less astraight line could create forces that might trigger the release of accumulated stress on the earth manifesting as earthquakes. Such a configuration would occur on December 12.
— PTI |
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BBMB releases water to Rajasthan
New Delhi, December 4 An official spokesman said an all-party delegation of MPs from Rajasthan along with state Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje met the Prime Minister regarding the release of water to the Indira Gandhi Canal System in western Rajasthan. “Following the Prime Minister’s intervention, the BBMB has allotted adequate water to Rajasthan as per its stated demand for the month of December. The water release has already
been intimated,” the spokesman said. |
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Mutt officials grilled
Kancheepuram, December 4 former mutt official, two years ago in Chennai. The assault case had been linked to the Sankararaman murder case in which Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi was arrested. The police says there is a link between the assailants in both the cases and they have named Jayendra Saraswathi as the main accused in both the cases. The special investigation team, probing the murder case, today also questioned the mutt officials on the “connection between the mutt and Radhakrishnan”, police said. Last evening, Sundaresa Iyer was questioned for nearly eight hours by additional SP, Sathyanarayana. Some officials from Bank of India were also present during the interrogation.
— PTI |
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Cop arrested on rape charge
Dehra Dun, December 4 The cop allegedly took the girl who had come to the market from Bhaisgaon on November 28 to a fair at Srinagar. He later brought her back to Rudraprayag and took her to his room where he raped her, the girl alleged. Meanwhile, the girl’s father, Mr Pushkar Singh Jagwan, reported the girl to be missing at the Agastyamuni police station. The girl, a standard nine student, returned the next day and reported the matter to her parents, who got an FIR registered, the police said. |
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3 killed as car falls into gorge
Dehra Dun, December 4 Mahaveer Singh Chauhan (57), Buddhivallabh Deudhi (56) and Madan Gopal Chamoli (42) died on the spot while the driver Megh Singh Pokhariyal was seriously injured. The driver, who informed the police about the accident, has been hospitalised, the police said. |
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