 |
|
|
Almost half of Bengal bird flu-hit
PM meets Azad, aid for Pandits likely
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rahul wants a younger Cong
Quota for Marathis
Leave Maharashtra to us: Thackeray
Sarkozy’s talks with PM to focus on N-energy
Need to protect small investors:
Cong
Bachchans to open school at Barabanki
Uphaar Case
CPI brings up third front again
Naidu promises quota, land, houses to rural poor
Army control over Jaunsar goes
India against French move to honour Taslima Modi brings back Pande as Guj DGP
World top honour for 3 Indian trains
Sanjay Dutt, Manyata married?
CP Shooting
Indian connection at this year’s Oscars
Tributes paid to Netaji
Suspected victim hospitalised in Darjeeling
Six call girls held
Narayanan’s wife still critical
|
|
Almost half of Bengal bird flu-hit
Kolkata, January 23 Death of chicken was also reported from Howrah, bordering Kolkata. Even in the already affected districts of Nadia
and Murshidabad districts, more blocks have reported the disease, local administration officials said. “Samples of chicken sent from Cooch Behar and Hooghly districts to the High-risk Security Disease Laboratory (HSDL) in Bhopal yesterday tested positive,” animal resources development minister Anisur Rahaman said today. Nine districts - Birbhum, Murshidabad, SouthDinajpur, Burdwan, Nadia, Bankura, Malda Cooch Behar and Hoogly - out of 19 in the state have so far fallen prey to avian flu. “Steps are being taken to officially notify both districts as bird flu affected for the next course of action, including culling,” Rahaman said. The samples which tested positive were from Dinhata in Cooch Behar district and Balagarh in Hooghly district, he said. There was, however, no case of humans beings being affected, the minister said. The target of culling, set at 20 lakh spread overseven days, was also likely to be raised, he said. The daily target now was three lakh with 600 teams on the job from today, he said. About 150 technical teams from eight states, including Haryana, Assam, Maharashtra, Orissa and Jharkhand, are yet to join monitoring of the culling. A report from Shillong said Meghalaya had sounded a high alert and an expert team was expected to reach the state tomorrow to oversee precautionary measures.
— PTI
|
|
PM meets Azad, aid for Pandits likely
New Delhi, January 23 The meeting, lasting nearly 100 minutes, was attended Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan, Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, JK Chief Secretary B R Kundal, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister TKS Nair and Director General of JK Police Kuldeep Khoda. The meeting discussed matters relating to militancy-affected families, Kashmiri Pandits, West Pakistan refugees of 1947 and PoK Refugees of 1947. Five working groups were set up following the second round table conference convened by the Prime Minister in Srinagar in 2006. The groups were set up on economic development, strengthening relations across the LoC, confidence-building measures in the state, good governance and strengthening relations between the state and the Centre. Out of the five working groups, four had submitted their reports to the Prime Minister last year. The report of the fifth group on Centre-State relations is awaited. The Centre had constituted a committee under Home Secretary with representatives of both union and state governments to review the implementation of the recommendations made by the Working Groups. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had held a meeting with senior officers of Home Ministry and Defence Ministry on January 13 to discuss matters concerning working groups recommendations. He had also met Patil last evening. The sources said a relief package for Kashmiri Pandits and support for dependents of militants killed in police encounters were among a slew of measures discussed at the meeting. The relief package would be finalised after holding consultations with finance ministry.
|
|
Rahul wants a younger Cong
New Delhi, January 23 Shedding his trademark inhibition, the party’s heir-apparent today had a long informal chat with mediapersons where he disclosed that he will begin his tours next month from the southern states. Quick to clarify that he has been busy at work, Rahul explained that before venturing out, he wanted to get a grip on the state of the organisation, particularly the Youth Congress, and create basic institutional structures.. “A lot of my work, so far, has been behind-the-scenes,” he explained. His first informal interaction with the Delhi press took place at a special lunch hosted by Veerappa Moily, chairman of the AICC media department. Rahul appeared unfazed by the Congress’ recent electoral defeats in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Instead of moaning over the results, he has decided to move on and set himself the tough task of restructuring and democratising the organisation. Shrugging off the party’s poor performance, the young MP from Amethi said, ”Politics is not an on-off switch and one victory or defeat does not determine a party’s fortunes,” adding valiantly, ”The Congress has certainly not got its back to to the wall.” Sources said Rahul Gandhi, who will be travelling with a band of young party workers, will focus on three broad areas, which were articulated by him earlier today at the meeting of the AICC’s committee on future challenges. He wanted the Congress to induct more young people to give it a fresh, new look. He would like to open the party to “new stakeholders” as stiff competition from regional forces has eroded its traditional support base. More importantly, Rahul has been talking of democratisation of party structures by doing away with the age-old “nomination” culture in the Congress. However, like his father, Rahul will face stiff opposition from vested interests in the party who won’t welcome change. Aware that motivating youth is not easy, Rahul is of the view that the Congress must have something to offer them. He said his interaction with the youth had revealed a “distance between them and the political class”, adding that the youth prefer more access to politics and decision-making, and are also looking for a new type of thinking in politics. When asked about his chance meeting with BJP leader L.K.Advani at an airport, Rahul declined to comment, saying he considers the saffron party a “political adversary” as the
Congress has fundamental differences with it. His comment comes in the backdrop of recent reports that the BJP leader had told him that the two mainstream parties should treat each other as “political adversaries and not enemies”.
|
|
|
Sena’s demand irks builders
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 23 The suggestion has already drawn flak from builders and political activists who are accusing the Thackeray family of hypocrisy. Thackeray’s suggestion has been published in the party mouthpiece Saamna as part of his 82nd birthday greetings. “Every where big towers are coming up, but Maharashtrians are living in slums as they cannot afford a place in these towers,” Thackeray wrote. “Reserve 50 per cent of the houses for the Marathis or not even a single brick will be laid,” Thackeray said. Sources in the real estate business say many of the developers actively discourage people of Maharashtrian origin from purchasing flats in some of areas as most of them are non-vegetarian. “Gujaratis, who mainly purchase the expensive properties, do not like to live among people who cook non-vegetarian food,” says broker Shyam Meghnani from Pedder Road. So Maharashtrians as well as Muslims and Christians are denied the choice of purchasing prime properties even if they can afford them. But the Shiv Sena as well as its alliance partner, the BJP, has drawn flak for patronising such builders. BJP MLA from South Mumbai Mangal Prabhat Lodha is putting up several plush constructions where people from non-vegetarian communities are actively discouraged from purchasing houses. Attempts by local Shiv Sena leaders to protest Lodha’s policies have been snubbed by the party leadership. Former Lok Sabha speaker and senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi purchased the Kohinoor mill land at Dadar in South Mumbai where a spanking shopping mall is coming up. No shop or flat here is reserved for Marathi-speaking people though the native population dominates the area. Obviously builders and rival politicians are criticising Thackeray over the order. “It is illegal to have quota for Maharashtrians or people of any community,” says Rajesh Tope, minister of state for urban development.
|
|
|
Leave Maharashtra to us: Thackeray
Mumbai, January 23 “Maharashtra will not accept anybody. States have been divided on linguistic basis. Modi has got Gujarat. Mayawati got Uttar Pradesh. Leave Maharashtra to us. In Maharashtra, only the Shiv Sena pattern will work”, he told reporters at his
residence. Thackeray, who turned 82 today, made light of BJP’s efforts to project Modi in Maharashtra when reporters sought his views on the issue against the backdrop of the public meeting of Narendra Modi and Mayawati’s rally in Mumbai. Modi was in the city on last Sunday to participate in a rally to celebrate his victory in Gujarat and the Sena was not not involved in it. Seeking to downplay Thackeray’s remarks, BJP leader in Maharashtra Gopinath Munde said his party was fully with the Shiv Sena and would fight the next Assembly and Lok Sabha elections jointly with it. In an interview to Sena mouthpiece
Saamna, Thackeray said the Godhra killings and subsequent riots in Gujarat were beneficial for Modi. “Godhra certainly helped (Modi). He cannot forget Godhra. Godhra victims and Gujarat riots were useful to him,” Thackeray said. “Gujaratis began to think Modi is their support. Muslims are terrified (of him)...this is his formula in politics,” he said. It cannot be said how a person will behave if power goes to his head, he added. The Sena chief expressed apprehensions about a “likely civil war in the country. There can be a big uprising by Muslims. Are Hindus ready?” he asked. Thackeray flayed the state government for demoralising encounter squads in Mumbai and said, “If our government comes to power, we will rejuvenate the squads.” The Sena chief also expressed staunch opposition to the movement for a separate
Vidarbha. Thackeray said he longer had his famed “remote control” as far as his age was concerned. Mayawati’s formula will not work in Maharashtra, he said. “Maharashtra’s walls are very strong and we are so casteist. So, she will not succeed
here.” Thackeray also predicted that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would be assassinated. Thackeray also released a book written on Sena by senior party leader Manohar Joshi. The book ‘Shiv Sena --
kal, aaj ani udya (Shiv Sena -- yesterday, today and tomorrow)’ by the former Lok Sabha Speaker is like an encyclopedia on the four-decade old party, Thackeray said.
— PTI
|
|
|
Sarkozy’s talks with PM to focus on N-energy
New Delhi, January 23 France is the world leader in nuclear energy and 90 per cent of its power requirements are met through nuclear sources. Like Russia and the UK, France is keen on sewing up a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement with India and is eyeing the $ 500 billion market India will throw open after the Indo-US nuclear deal is operationalised. Civilian nuclear energy is a topic close to Sarkozy’s heart. Ever since he assumed office recently, Sarkozy has not wasted any time in promoting his agenda to share civilian nuclear technology with different countries, even the Islamic world. France has already signed deals with Libya and Algeria for the construction of civilian nuclear reactors. During his Middle East trip earlier this month, Sarkozy offered nuclear assistance to the Saudi Arabian leadership. France’s state-owned nuclear reactor developer Areva is building two third-generation nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates. Publicly, Sarkozy is expected to voice the oft-repeated line that the French cooperation with India in civilian nuclear energy field will have to await change of international rules in India’s favour by the 35-nation IAEA and the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Several agreements are going to be signed by the two sides after the PM- Sarkozy meeting. Sarkozy and Manmohan Singh are scheduled to address a joint press conference in the afternoon. On January 25 evening, President Pratibha Patil will host a banquet for Sarkozy.
|
|
Need to protect small investors:
Cong
New Delhi, January 23 This issue also figured at the Congress’ daily briefing when party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan requested the UPA government to take appropriate steps to ensure that the interest of the small investor were protected. Since the rising Sensex and the country’s galloping economic growth are touted as the Manmohan government’s main achievements, the
Congress is worried that the wide fluctuations in the stock market, which have hit the small investor, will further dent the government’s credibility. “Over the last two days there has been tremendous activity in the stock market and many small investors have been severely affected having incurred heavy losses,” Natarajan said. She said though the country’s economy was robust but it was important, in the medium term, to maintain and encourage proper financial growth in the stock markets. When asked about the CPM blaming Chidambaram and his policies for the fall in the stock market, she said the Congress did not subscribe to this view. Meanwhile, the CPI today blamed the economic policies of the government for the recent volatility in the stock market, saying that an appropriate inquiry should be ordered to look into the reasons. Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta said there was reason to believe that there had been some malpractices which led to the “disaster” in the stock market. Dasgupta, who was present at the CPI office along with other leaders said the economic policies pursued by finance minister P Chidamabaram were responsible for disaster in the stock market.
|
|
|
Bachchans to open school at Barabanki
Lucknow, January 23 It will be a unique mixture of glamour and politics when senior leaders like former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Chandrababu Naidu, Om Prakash Chautala and Mulayam Singh Yadav would also arrive in Daulatpur village of Fatehpur block in
Barabanki. The occasion is the birthday of the common thread that brings them all together - SP national general secretary Amar Singh. It would be observed by laying the foundation of a girls boarding school, reportedly in the memory of the actor’s poet father Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Confirming the news, SP MLA from Haidergarh and party in charge of the function Arvind Singh Gope ruled out any political significance of the function. “It is the birthday of party’s senior leader Amar Singh. It would be celebrated in the presence of his family, that is the Bachchan family, and his political family”.
Gope said even last year the entire Bachchan family, including Aishwarya as well as senior SP leaders, was present at his birthday that was celebrated by marrying off 51 poor couples at the Vindhyachal Mandir in Mirzapur. Denying reports that the UNPA would officially launch its Lok Sabha campaign on the occasion, the SP MLA said nothing of that sort was scheduled. However, he did not rule out any political announcement being made on the occasion. Official sources confirmed that four helipads were being constructed for the occasion as the political and film personalities were expected to arrive by four chartered helicopters from Lucknow and stay at the venue for two hours. Incidentally, Daulatpur is the village where Amitabh Bachchan had burnt his fingers by attempting to get land record forged in order to show him as the owner of a piece of agricultural land. In August, 2007, when the land got involved in a ferocious legal battle after the installation of the Mayawati government, the superstar strategically offered to donate it to the gram sabha suggesting that it be used for building a school. On the basis of this decision, Amitabh received a major relief from the Allahabad High Court in November, 2007. The court had observed that as the land had been returned to the gram sabha the matter should be dropped.
|
|
|
Convicted former manager gets bail
New Delhi, January 23 The court took into account a medical report, prepared by the RML Hospital doctors, which said the ailing convict needed regular check-ups. Justice H R Malhotra ordered the release of Radha Kishan Sharma (72), and suspended the operation of sentence till disposal of his appeal, filed against the sentencing. The court asked Sharma to furnish a personal and a surety bond of Rs 50,000 each as a pre-condition for his release. The Bench then adjourned the matter to January 30, the day when appeals of other convicts are listed for hearing. Earlier, the court had suspected that a report of deputy superintendent of Tihar jail, terming convict’s health as “very critical”, was the part of a “mischief” with the sole intention of securing bail. It had then ordered that a team of doctors from RML hospital would examine him and file the report in the court. The observations were made after additional solicitor general P P Malhotra, appearing for the CBI, had submitted that it was a fit case for initiation of contempt proceedings against the deputy superintendent of the jail for writing a letter to a DCP of Delhi Police, terming the convict’s condition as “very critical”. He had said convict Sharma, who was hospitalised in DDU hospital, was released from the hospital within two days and his condition was purportedly normal. — PTI
|
|
CPI brings up third front again
New Delhi, January 23 The CPI, which has released its draft political resolution, which will be adopted after discussions at the party’s 20th Congress in Hyderabad from March 23 to 27, also spoke of moving towards Communist unity on a principled basis. “That is the only way to make a decisive breakthrough in the country’s politics and take it towards socialist future,” the resolution said, adding that the core of Left unity has to be cooperation and united action of the CPI and CPM. CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said the party would do its utmost to ensure defeat of BJP and its allies and would support efforts of secular and democratic parties to succeed in polls. Opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said it was culmination of the drift of the UPA government from the stated position of the Common Minimum Programme. Maintaining that continuous drift of the UPA government from the CMP and its attitude of ignoring pro-people measures has shaken the peoples’ confidence, the resolution said it was removing the very basis of the Left support to it. The resolution noted the CPI had warned that there is need to review the performance of the UPA Government and redefine the Left’s attitude. “Left support should no longer be taken for granted. We did not insist on any Left agenda but on what has been agreed to by the UPA itself.” Identifying the Hindi belt and western states as its area of weakness, the resolution said that the party’s organisational reach and political clout was far short of what was needed. Referring to the attempts to forge a third front opposed to both the Congress and BJP and formation of UNPA, the CPI said that it will interact with the constituents of the alliance so that they join in the common struggle for evolving a programme-based alternative. Identifying regional parties as a very important element in the process of forging a Left and Democratic Alternative, the CPI resolution said all of them might not be having a definite stand on economic policies. Attacking the government, the CPI said that while the official spokespersons speak of high rate of economic growth in the country, at the ground level there was an unprecedented rise in economic inequalities. Terming Nandigram as a rude shock, the CPI said opponents of the Left Front seized upon the incidents to build anti-Left campaign throughout the country. “The CPI was critical of the unilateral way the largest partner, the CPM had dealt, without consulting and taking the other partners into confidence. The differences were however mostly sorted out through frank discussions,” the resolution said. In an apparent reference to recent comments of CPM leaders Jyoti Basu and Prakash Karat, the CPI said there were constraints of a Left-ruled state functioning in a capitalist set-up but it cannot just follow the same path as other states. “It has to set an example of growth and development which is employment-friendly and takes along with it the large mass following that it has. This is not only a practical issue, but also one of theoretical significance in charting the way forward. It cannot be disposed off by off-the-cuff statements or remarks following from the exigencies of the moment. They cause confusion rather than clarifying the path that is followed,” it said. The CPI said that prices of all essential commodities were increasing and opposed any hike in prices of petroleum products.
|
|
Naidu promises quota, land, houses to rural poor
Hyderabad, January 23 After a string of sops for farmers, Naidu today turned his attention towards Backward Classes, promising enhanced reservations, free housing, land and Rs 2,000 crore special welfare fund, if his party is voted to power in the next elections. The announcement was made at a massive rally organised by the TDP at Warangal town, the Telangana heartland. Addressing the rally, christened as ‘BC Garjana’ (Battle-cry of BCs), Naidu said his party would strive for BC quota within the 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies. The TDP, if voted to power in 2009 poll, would earmark Rs 2,000 crore in the budget for welfare of Backward Classes, set up another Rs 2,000 crore special welfare fund and provide land to every eligible poor family. The regional party’s drubbing in the 2004 elections was largely attributed to its pro-urban and pro-reforms image and perceived neglect of agriculture, irrigation and welfare sectors. The Backward Classes, considered the traditional vote bank of the TDP, had moved away from the party in the last elections. Ever since losing power, Naidu has been trying hard for an image make-over to regain the confidence of the poor. Abandoning reforms agenda, which had once characterised its regime, the TDP has re-discovered the virtues of populism and adopted an alternative economic policy focusing on rural poor and other vulnerable sections. It has since been making a series of promises, including waiver of all crop loans, providing interest-free loans to small farmers and unemployment dole. The party has also promised free power to farmers, an idea Naidu had detested while in power, creation of Rs 1,000 crore farmers’ welfare fund and revival of Rs 2 per kg rice scheme.
|
|
|
Army control over Jaunsar goes
Dehra Dun, January 23 Amid rejoicing, local MP Vijay Bahuguna formally waved a green flag to the vehicular movement followed by removal of the barriers to mark the historic occasion ending the control of the Army over the area, which had been in place since 1901. The area is under Cantonment Board, Chakrata, sub-division headquarter, about 90 km from the state capital. The restrictions had been imposed due to sensitive defence related activities in the area. But, at the same time, the restrictions had caused great inconvenience to local people as they could move in and out of the area only at specific timings. No movement was allowed during the night. Optimum interaction of the locals, who speak different Jaunsari dialects, with other parts of the state suffered. Agriculture in absence of any value addition is the main occupation among other pastoral activities. All this had taken a heavy toll of the economic development of the area especially from the tourism point of view. The area, comprising Chakrata and Kalsi, the two largest blocks of the hill state, boasts of breathtaking natural beauty. So, over the years, demand for abolishing the gate system, probably the last remnant of the colonial period grew louder. Finally, it echoed in the corridors of power, thanks to Bahuguna who thinks opening the area for the foreign tourists and widening of the existing narrow road to Chakrata could help the area overcome the developmental backlog. “From tourism point, it is a virgin area. So, I believe the restriction on foreigners’ movement should go except in the cantonment area. The matter is under consideration of the home ministry,” he told The Tribune.
|
|
India against French move to honour Taslima New Delhi, January 23 Nasreen, who has been kept in virtual confinement somewhere in Delhi, was named as recipient of Simone de Beauvoir Award by the French government on January 9. Sensing that she would not be able to travel out of India to receive the award named after famous writer Beauvoir, France had proposed to honour her during Sarkozy’s two-day visit to New Delhi from Friday. The Ministry of External Affairs, however, has conveyed to the French government that it disfavours such a move, sources said. The government, wary of repercussions, has cited the recent violence here over her writings as the reason for disfavouring such a conferment, the sources said. Widespread violence was witnessed in West Bengal a few months back after some radical Islamists demanded that she be thrown out of the country for hurting the sentiments of Muslims through her writings. KOLKATA: Taslima Nasreen today expressed hope that the Centre would extend her visa which expires on February 17. “I am waiting for the extension of my visa. I will come to know (about the government decision on the visa) a few days before February 17,” Nasreen told PTI from an undisclosed destination in New Delhi.
— PTI
|
|
|
Modi brings back Pande as Guj DGP Gandhinagar, January 23 P.C. Pande, a trusted lieutenant of Modi, has been re-appointed as the DGP of the state. An officer of 1971 batch, Pande will replace K.R. Kaushik who was appointed by the Election Commission as the DGP ahead of the elections in the state in December last year. Kaushik has been shifted to Anti-Corruption Bureau as its director-general, sources in the state home department said. Pande had come in for severe criticism for allegedly doing very little as Ahmedabad’s police commissioner to contain the riots that had erupted in the city in 2002. — PTI
|
|
|
World top honour for 3 Indian trains
New Delhi, January 23 The two other trains from the Asian region to feature in the coveted list are Eastern & Oriental Express (South East Asia) and Shangri-La Express (China). The list of these celebrated trains has been published by a US-based Society of International Railway Travellers
(SIRT) in a special edition of its magazine to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The trains, chosen on the basis of travelling experience of the people, met stringent standards for service, accommodation, scenery, itinerary, off-train experiences and passenger
enjoyment. SIRT chief Eleanor Hardy said the 25 trains chosen represented the group’s best-loved railway journeys. The Palace on Wheels, comprising 14 air-conditioned deluxe saloons and equipped with world-class amenities, is the flagship train of Indian Railways in luxurious travelling and travels between New Delhi and Rajasthan. All the coaches of this resplendent train are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini pantry, packed with hot and cold beverages and refreshments, and a place to relax and get together. The second Indian train to figure on the global list is the Toy Train or The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which is a narrow gauge railway that runs from Siliguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal. The train, built between 1879 and 1881, is still powered by a steam engine. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Deccan Odyssey, the third train from India that has made the global list, is a luxury train that travels through Central India over a period of eight days, and has stopovers in Mumbai,
Ratnagiri, Sawantwadi, Goa, Pune, Aurangabad and Nasik. This train has 21 coaches, out of which 11 are passenger cars and two presidential suite cars. It also has a conference car, which can be doubled as dance floor in the night and two restaurant cars. In addition, there is a spa car.
— UNI |
|
|
Sanjay Dutt, Manyata married?
Mumbai, January 23 The advertisement has been released in the 88-page special edition Saamna newspaper. Below a large photograph of a reclining Thackeray is the revealing caption: “From Sanjay Dutt and Manyata Dutt”. According to Bollywood sources, the duo had a low-profile registered marriage in the presence of a few family members and close friends. Though his sisters Priya, Namrata and other family friends remained unreachable on their mobile phones, sources told IANS that the marriage has been kept under wraps since Dutt has been sentenced to a jail term. He is presently out on bail. “It would appear inappropriate to celebrate a marriage with him behind bars,” one of his Bollywood friends said. Dutt was always expected to tie the knot with Manyata alias Shehnaaz Shaikh, once an innocuous Bollywood item girl, who has been seen with him during the highs and lows in his personal and professional lives.
— IANS
|
|
|
CP Shooting
New Delhi, January 23 A Division Bench of Justice B.N. Chaturvedi and Justice G.S. Sistani dismissed their applications for suspension of sentence and granting them bail stating that the court would dispose of their appeals at the earliest and there was no need to hear their bail applications. The court has fixed February 19 as the date to hear arguments on the appeals filed by them. Assistant commissioner of Delhi Police S.S. Rathi was among the convicts. They had all been sentenced for life by the trial court on October 24
last year. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had submitted that the murder was without any provocation. The agency described the action of the policemen as “callous”. In the shootout, businessmen Pradeep Goel and Jagjeet Singh had been killed by the trigger-happy policemen in broad daylight in Connaught Place over ten years ago. The policemen had allegedly mistaken them for terrorists.
— Agencies
|
|
|
Indian connection at this year’s Oscars
New Delhi, January 23 Incidentally, “Elizabeth”, also directed by Kapur, had won an Oscar in 1998 for best makeup (Jenny Shircore). Also a nominee in best actress category for her role in “Away from Her”, Julie Christie has her roots in India. The veteran actress, who already has an Oscar in her bag (for her performance in Darling in 1965), was born in Assam in 1941. Her father was the manager of the Chabua tea estate. But the family left for London when Christie was six years old. This year, India’s entry in the foreign film category -- Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s “Eklavya - The Royal Guard” failed to make it to the final
five. — PTI
|
|
Tributes paid to Netaji
New Delhi, January 23 On the occasion, artistes from the song and drama division of the ministry of information and broadcasting sang patriotic songs. The Lok Sabha secretariat brought out a booklet covering the profile of Netaji. Meanwhile, the BJP has renewed its demand for the removal of some “derogatory words” written against Netaji in a Class XI history book, published by the NCERT. Addressing the second Netaji Subhas Commemorative Lecture here today, former union minister and BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to page 165 of the 2005 edition of Modern History, a book for Class XI students, where Netaji’s associate Ras Bihari Bose has been described as “a terrorist revolutionary”.
|
|
Suspected victim hospitalised in Darjeeling
Kolkata, January 23 With severe throat
trouble, high body temperature and respiratory problems, Suraj was admitted to the Naxalbari subdivisional hospital last night. The boy was working in a private hatchery at Naxalbari and in the past few days he was engaged in the culling of chickens. Doctors suspected that Suraj was a victim of bird flu and accordingly they kept him in the hospital’s isolation ward. His blood samples have been sent to Calcutta Hospital for tropical medicine. Chief secretary A.K. Deb said there was a report that a boy in Darjeeling was suffering from bird flu but till the testing report was received, nothing could be ascertained.
|
|
|
Six call girls held
Mumbai, January 23 The police raided the place at around 11 pm yesterday and arrested the six girls and the four pimps. Two of the girls are Uzbekistan nationals, Sonawane said. The four pimps have been identified as Rajan Arora, Shivram Rai, Umesh Kumar and Niranjan Nath.
— UNI
|
|
|
Narayanan’s wife still critical
New Delhi, January 23 Usha Narayanan (86), was admitted to the Gangaram Hospital in the national capital on December 31 for a blood transfusion due to a severe drop in her haemoglobin level.
— PTI |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Bird flu has spread to almost half of West Bengal with Cooch Behar and Hoogly being added today to the list of districts affected by the disease even as
the authorities said they might have to raise the target of culling 20 lakh chicken.
Videos
