JD-U booklet on Lalu's flood 'jokes' soon

PATNA: "Don't be scared of floods! When it comes, it brings a lot of fish. Poor people will get fish free of cost and relish it."

This and other off-the-cuff remarks by railway minister Lalu Prasad during the current devastating Kosi floods as also in the past are being documented by the state unit of the Janata Dal (U). It will be published in a booklet form.

The floods this year have been politicised as never before as all major political players are trying to provide relief to the victims but with an eye on the coming general elections. "We will reproduce non-serious statements of Lalu on floods he made recently and during the 15 years when he and his party were in power here," state JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh "Lallan" said on Saturday.

The state party office has been activated to collect all available clippings of Lalu's flood jokes. Besides, the (in)famous fish remark, said a party functionary, there are many more like the one when Lalu commented while sympathising with farmers whose land was submerged, "Don't worry! The flood waters will turn your land more fertile."

Source : Times Of India

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Court should fix definition of 'terrorist': Raj Thackeray

NASHIK: Reacting to the Bombay High Court's "terrorist" remark on him on the Marathi signboards issue, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday said the court should fix definition of "terrorist".

Addressing a college students gathering on career guidance organised by Nashik unit of MNS this afternoon, Raj said, "We are forcing to make signboards in Marathi as per law, but court raps the state over failure to curb my drive and described me as a terrorist."

"Does noted social worker Anna Hazare become a terrorist if he observes fast or silence (maun vrata) for his demands?" he asked.

Commenting on the government's remarks that he is running a parallel government, the MNS chief said, "I am not interested in running such government, but will run government in future."

Source : Times Of India

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Shivraj Patil should resign: BJP

NEW DELHI: With yet another blast rocking the national capital, BJP on Saturday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil saying he has no right to be in office in the wake of continuing terror attacks in the country.

V K Malhotra, BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi who visited the blast site in south Delhi's Mehrauli, also demanded convening of an early session of Parliament to discuss the security scenario in the country.

Attacking Patil, the BJP leader said, "instead of changing his clothes thrice, he should have taken actions like discussing the matter with public. Instead of doing all that, money is being collected for terrorists, demonstrations are being held for them."

He said the security scenario has worsened and now terrorists do not have any fear in carrying out strikes in the country.

"The only ones who are scared are the public. The terrorists know that. Even if they get caught, they will be getting money and legal support from the government," he said.


Source : Times Of India

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V K Malhotra to be BJP's Delhi CM candidate

NEW DELHI: BJP's Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, will lead the party in the coming Assembly elections in the national capital.

Malhotra was chosen as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate at a meeting of the Parliamentary Board which met at the BJP headquarters here.

"He is an acceptable and senior leader. He has the potential to lead the party in the coming elections and emerge victorious," BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley told a press conference here announcing Malhotra's name.

The 77-year-old leader, who is the lone BJP MP from the national capital in the current Lok Sabha, represents South Delhi constituency.

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Left, BSP dharna against nuke deal

PATNA: Workers of five Left parties namely CPI, CPM, Forward Bloc, Janvadi Forward Bloc, RSP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday staged a daylong dharna and burnt effigies of PM Manmohan Singh and US president George W Bush here at the income-tax roundabout in protest against the Indo-US nuclear deal and Manmohan’s US visit.

It was part of Left parties’ nationwide protest programme. According to CPI state secretary B N Lal, dharnas were staged at the district headquarters of Begusarai, West Champaran, Madhepura, Khagaria, Rohtas, Buxar and Bhagalpur. Prominent among those present included Lal, veteran CPM leader and former state secretary Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi.


Source : Times Of India

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TRS men attack Lanco office

HYDERABAD: A group of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) activists attacked an office of Lanco on Road No. 92, Jubilee Hills in the city on Thursday evening.

Police said the attack was in retaliation to an accident involving external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s convoy in Nizamabad on Thursday, in which the car of Lagadapati Rajagopal, promoter and former managing director of Lanco and Congress MP from Vijayawada, ran over a TRS worker’s foot when they were trying to obstruct the convoy. But Lanco officials said that it was some other car that was involved in the accident. “There were 20 cars in Pranab’s convoy. How can my car be singled out?” Rajagopal said later.

B Chinna Reddy, 25, a local TRS activist reportedly suffered minor injuries in the accident.

According to eyewitnesses, 30 TRS activists came to the Lanco office that serves as the headquarters for their Lanco Hills project at 4.30 pm and suddenly started pelting stones on the office. “It was totally unprovoked and absolutely an act of vandalism,” said an eyewitness. In the stone pelting that continued for five minutes, the glass panes of the three storied building were completely broken and four cars parked in front of the building were damaged. The TRS men who identified themselves with their party scarves also shouted slogans like ‘Jai Telangana’ during the attack.

A local cop said the activists came directly from the TRS Bhavan, where a training camp was on. However, the city police commissioner said he has to verify the report. “We are trying to find out whether the attackers came from the TRS office and where they went after the attack,” city police commissioner Prasada Rao said. “There were nearly 200 employees at the office. However, no one was hurt, ” DCP Ravi Verma said.

Source : Times Of India

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Cops identify cyber cafe from where email threat to Advani was sent

SHILLONG: Police have claimed to have identified the cyber cafe from which the email, purportedly sent by Indian Mujahideen terrorists, to eliminate BJP leader L K Advani during his Shillong visit on September 29, was sent.

Refusing to disclose the name of the cafe, DGP B K Dey Sawian said the mail was sent from a cafe in Shillong.

"Definitely the email was not sent by a prankster. It's a two page mail written with specific inputs and details. We are taking it seriously and working on it to trace the sender," Sawian said.

He said the police was taking the matter very seriously. "Advani is given the highest category security, yet we cannot afford to take any chances," the DGP said.

When asked whether the police had any specific input about the presence of Indian Mujahideen militants in the state, Sawian said, “As of now we do not have specific inputs on that, but it cannot be ruled out."

"Soon after the blasts in Ahmedabad and Delhi, we have put certain places across the state under scanner acting on intelligence inputs. We are looking at those (places)," he added.

BJP not to cancel Advani's visit despite threat

The BJP will go ahead with the scheduled visit of L K Advani to the northeast despite the email threat given by suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists to eliminate him.

"We are going ahead with the programme," BJP president H S Syiemlieh said before going into a huddle with senior state leaders to discuss the matter.

Terming the threat as 'nothing unusual', he said the party was in touch with the police.

"We are not sure about the credential of the threat. The responsibility of his (Advani) security lies on the government," the BJP president said.

Govt to ensure Advani's security: CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy has assured that the state government would ensure BJP leader L K Advani's visit to Shillong is incident free.

In the wake of an email threat, purportedly by Indian Mujahideen terrorists to eliminate Advani during his visit here on September 29, Roy said, "We are verifying the matter. The government will ensure that Advani has a safe visit to the state."

"He (Advani) is an important leader. Police is taking all measures to trace the sender of the email and verify the authenticity of it," he told reporters here.


Source : Times Of India

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'BSP worker' held for blackmailing Amar Singh

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police claim to have picked up a person for demanding Rs 5 crore from SP leader Amar Singh in lieu of making a statement in his favour before a Parliamentary panel probing the cash-for-vote scam. Hashmat Ali was arrested from Amar Singh’s residence on Thursday.
Ali, described by Singh as a BSP worker, had gone to Singh's residence this morning and demanded the hefty amount for changing his statement he had given to the panel, the SP leader claimed at a press conference.

Singh said Ali, who was to depose before the Inquiry Committee on FRiday, came to his residence around 8.30 am and said he could save the reputation of the SP leader by giving a favourable statement to the panel.

A person, whom Singh described as Hashmat Ali, was seen being taken away in a car from the SP leader's residence. "I am being kidnapped," the person shouted to reporters. However, Crime Branch of Delhi Police said that Ali was under detention and being questioned.

The issue of "kidnapping" of Ali is understood to have figured at the meeting of the Parliamentary panel with CPM member Mohammad Salim understood to have raised the issue.

Salim is learnt to have said that someone was trying hard to see that crucial evidence in the cash-for-vote scam was not brought before the panel to enable it reach the truth.

Opposition BJP termed Ali's detention as a "stage-managed" show by Singh and attacked him for trying to "influence and intimidate" the witness and the Committee.

"This is a stage-managed show and an attempt to intimidate and influence the witness and the committee," BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar said demanding a new probe into the matter.

Source : Times Of India

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Manmohan, Zardari vow to be 'severe' on terror

NEW YORK: Acknowledging that the peace process has been "under strain" in recent months, India and Pakistan on Wednesday announced that cross-LoC trade in Jammu and Kashmir will commence on October 21 and vowed to take "severe action" against any elements directing or involved in terrorist acts, giving fresh momentum for an "an early and full" normalisation of bilateral relations.

Unveiling a slew of measures for a "peaceful resolution and saisfactory settlement" of all bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his first meeting with the new Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari agreed that the forces that have tried to derail the peace process must be "defeated."

Meeting on the sidelines of the 63rd United Nations General Assembly session at the Millenium hotel where the Pakistan President is staying, the two leaders came out with a joint statement agreeing that violence, hostility and terrorism have no place in the vision they share of the bilateral relationship and must be "visibly and verifiably" prevented.

In an apparent attempt to tell India that let bygones be bygones in the backdrop of rise in cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations, Zardari reassured Singh that the Pakistan government stood by its commitments of January 6, 2004 to stamp out terrorism.

With the needle of suspicion pointing to Pakistans ISI for the bombing of he Indian Embassy in Kabul, the two leaders agreed to convene a special meeting of the Joint Anti-Terror mechanism to address mutual concerns including the Kabul attack.

The two countries agreed to commence cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads on October 21,2008, open the Wagah-Attari road link to all permissible items on trade and the Khokrapar-Munabao rail route to all allowed items of trade.

The two leaders addressed the apparent lack of progress at the Foreign Secretary level talks to resolve outstanding issues saying they will schedule meetings of the Fifth round of the Composite dialogue in the next three months which will focus on "deliverables and concrete achievements."

Briefing newsmen after the nearly hour-long meeting, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said Prime Minister Singh was "very satisfied" at the meeting. The joint statement is a strong one in regard to the approach to be followed to deal with terrorism, he said, adding "we hope progress will be made on all (bilateral) issues.
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Source : Times Of India

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Amar disappointed with SP-Congress alliance

NEW DELHI: Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Samajwadi Party general secretary hit at the alliance with the Congress.

Expressing unhappiness with the state of ties with the Congress, he said, “I am disappointed that Congress MP Rashid Aivi attacked me”.

Amar also said that the party has indulged in character assassination. He threatened to expose a lot of big people in the Congress.

He went to on say that so far what has happened is worse than a honey trap.

It hasn’t been a long time since Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress joined hands to bail out the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during the Indo-US nuclear deal crisis.

But, now the rift between the two parties is deepening, with both sides making charges against each other over the seat-sharing row.

The third round of talks between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party for seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections would take place later this week.


Source : Times Of India

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AL, BNP agree to register with Election Commission (EC )

DHAKA: Major political parties have agreed to contest the December 18 national elections after registration with the Election Commission under the relaxed provisions on party registration, but demanded withdrawal of the state of emergency and deferment of the upazila polls scheduled for December 24 and 28.( The New Age BD )

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party explained its stand on the issues to the commission on Tuesday when a four-member party delegation met the chief and other election commissioners.

The delegation urged the commission to defer the holding of the upzila polls by a month.

They also demanded an immediate withdrawal of the emergency to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the elections.

The Awami League at its presidium meeting on Sunday made similar demands.

At a rally of the Dhaka city north unit of the Awami Swechhasebak League, Awami League leaders demanded deferral of the upazila polls by at least 45 days to avoid ‘unwarranted problems’ in the holding of the general elections. They also demanded withdrawal of the state of emergency.

Both the parties also said there could be no elections under the state of emergency.

Five city mayors on Tuesday too favoured deferment of the upazila polls on the grounds that the polls, as scheduled, might hamper the holding of the national elections, which is the main responsibility of the interim government.

After a meeting with the LGRD and cooperatives adviser, Anwarul Iqbal, at the secretariat, they said it would be difficult both for the local administration and the police to cope with the situation and for the parties to coordinate electoral activities if the campaigns for national and local elections go together.

‘We will get registered and contest the next general elections as the BNP is an election-oriented party,’ the party’s vice-chairman MK Anwar, who led the BNP delegation, told reporters after the two-hour meeting at the EC secretariat.

He said they had asked the commission to defer the upazila polls by a month and withdraw the emergency.

The chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, however, rejected the demand for the deferral of the upazila polls, saying, ‘The commission has made all the preparations for holding upazila polls on the dates set.’

He welcomed the BNP’s move for registration with the commission and hoped the party would register with the commission by October 15, the deadline previously set.

‘We are happy the BNP has shown its interest in getting registered. We hope other parties will also accomplish the task by the time,’ he said.

The party’s joint secretaries general Nazrul Islam Khan and Abdul Mannan, and office secretary Rizvi Ahmed were in the BNP delegation.

Election commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hussain and M Sakhawat Hussain also attended the meeting.

MK Anwar said they had discussed Monday’s revision of the electoral laws which eased the procedure for registration of political parties.

‘The commission is brining about changes to a number of provisions in the amended Representation of the People Order. We have come to know of the details and made our stand clear before the commission,’ he said.

According to Monday’s revision, the political parties will now be able to register by submitting ‘provisional’ party constitutions without convening council sessions, but with clear pledges that they would meet the conditions set by the commission for reforms.

The BNP at a dialogue with the commission on Saturday demanded withdrawal or suspension of the latest amendments to the electoral laws, including the Representation of the People (amendment) Ordinance and provisions for compulsory registration of political parties to contest the forthcoming polls.

The BNP’s secretary general Khnadaker Delwar Hossain at an iftar party of its Paltan unit termed the remarks of MK Anawar regarding the party’s participation in the polls ‘his personal opinion.’

‘The final decision on the party’s participation in the polls will be made after discussion with the party chairperson, senior leaders and components of the BNP-led alliance,’ he told newsmen.

‘We are repeatedly asking the government and the Election Commission to create a level plying field for the elections by withdrawing the state of emergency. No elections could be held under the state of emergency,’ he said.

MK Anwar, in the evening, however, stood by his remarks made at the Election Commission in the morning. ‘We were sent by the party to apprise the commission of the party’s stand after they had relaxed some of their provisions. The commission heard us and showed a positive attitude.’

Asked about Delwar’s comment, Anwar said, ‘If the secretary general says so, I have nothing to add. But my remark was based on the September 11 statement of Khaleda Zia where she said the party would contest the polls and the party is yet to change the position.’

As for party registration, he said no party could register with the commission the way it had initially worked out the process. ‘The BNP will consider registration of the party now that the Election Commission has relaxed some provisions.’

Source : News From Bangladesh

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Jamat-ud-Dawa using mosques for jihad: Report

ISLAMABAD: Activists of an organisation led by Lashker-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed are using mosques to issue calls for jihad against the US in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, a media report said on Tuesday.

Members of Jamat-ud-Dawa, set up by Saeed after the Lashker-e-Taiba was banned by the Pakistan government, have been operating in the city's posh residential districts like Hayatabad and University Town, where they address people in mosques about the importance of jihad, the Daily Times said.

Quoting eyewitnesses, the newspaper said the activists have issued calls for a holy war against the US to worshippers at different mosques.

"A young, bearded and long-haired activist of the Jamat-ud-Dawa stood up after the Fajr (morning) prayers and began calling for jihad against infidels," said a University of Peshawar professor who had come across the activists at Madina mosque.

Mumtaz Khan, a resident of Hayatabad, who came across an extremist at Bilal mosque, said the fundamentalists cite dangers to Pakistan to incite people for war.

"The extremists first speak about geopolitics (and) dangers to Pakistan from both eastern and western borders and then urge the importance of jihad," he said.

A caretaker of one of the mosques confirmed that the Jamat-ud-Dawa, which describes itself as a charitable organisation, was using mosques to invite people for jihad.

"Under what law can I stop them from doing so? There is no law, both governmental or Islamic," said the caretaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"These callers come at different prayer times and are peaceful and appear to be pro-Pakistan," the caretaker added.

He also said that the number of such extremists had increased recently in the wake of the US drone attacks in the restive tribal areas.

After lying low for several years, banned groups like the Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have stepped up their activities across Pakistan since the resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf last month.

Source : Times Of India

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Chiru sets up panel to study problems plaguing weavers

HYDERABAD: As a follow-up to his successful interaction with bereaved families of weavers in Sircilla, Prajarajyam party president Chiranjeevi on Monday appointed a committee headed by party's senior adviser K S R Murthy to study the crisis in the handloom sector.

Chiranjeevi told the media that the committee would study the problems being faced by the handloom sector and suggest ways to tackle them.

"I was moved by the pathetic situation of weavers in the region. Instead of just visiting the place to console them, I wanted to work for the resolution of the problems sincerely. The committee under KSR Murty will guide us in working out a solution ," he said. Enthused by the response to his short notice visit to Sircilla, he said he would conduct more tours to problematic areas to understand the problems first hand.

Source : Times Of India

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Rahul as PM? Congress scion says 'question is open'

AMRITSAR/PATIALA: At 7 am, inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple, the CCTV repeatedly zoomed in on a white kurta-pyjama clad figure sitting cross-legged and listening intently to kirtans sung by raagis. It was only then that senior Congress leaders as well as the Amritsar IG realized Rahul Gandhi had begun his Punjab darshan with a visit to Harmandir Sahib.

"We wanted it to be low profile and less noisy," a Punjab Congress leader said. But as it is with his visits, Rahul, by the end of the day, had created quite a flutter. To a question on his possible elevation as prime minister of India, the 38-year-old AICC general secretary flashed his dimpled smile and told students at Patiala's Punjabi University that the question will remain "open, not closed."

In the 30-minute slotted interaction that stretched to 90 minutes, before Rahul was literally pulled away by anxious Congressmen who wanted him to grace other functions lined up by them, the Gandhi scion said, "The question of my elevation to the PM's post is still open and has not been closed as yet." He, however, added that he didn't aspire to become PM but to "make our party strong at the grass root level."

Prodded further, he dodged questions and picked up the ones on reservation in the education. "The key is to increase the number of universities and schools," he said.

"I think instead of debating about the withdrawal of reservation, our government should focus on increasing the number of universities and colleges. Where this is not possible, we must increase the number of seats. I am in the favor of increasing the size of the cake and not seeing family members fighting for their share."

The students gathered for the session had a lot on their mind though and wouldn't let Rahul off the hook. An interesting episode occurred when a student, neck up with knowledge about India's nuclear deal, stumped Rahul on one of the nitty-gritty. Rahul though for a moment and said, "Why are you asking me all this when you seem to know more about it than I do."

As the hall burst out laughing, Rahul went on to terrorism and stressed that he is much in favour of dealing with subversive violence "more aggressively". A little pause later he quipped, "But it's not about implementation of Pota to control terrorism. Pota is ineffective and there is no need for this law in country. Tada is more stringent and I think we should not waste time in debates about anti-terrorism laws, focusing instead on immediately implementing effective laws to tackle terrorism which is threatening both nationally and at an international level."

On corruption in politics, Rahul said it was discouraging youngsters from entering politics "which is working to the advantage of older politicians who don't want to leave their chairs".

At Sunam, as Rahul was passing through to Sangrur, already late by three hours, someone told him about Udham Singh. Breaching security concerns, he ran to the martyr's statue and asking his cavalcade to stop for a while, offered flowers.

Source : Times Of India

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Maya takes exception to Guv remarks

LUCKNOW: In a letter sent to governor TV Rajeswar, chief minister Mayawati has said “I was surprised to read your comments in newspapers. You never made any such comment during the previous regime where mid-session transfers were the order of the day.”

She added that there could be a few incidents where under unavoidable circumstances, transfers were done.

In this context, the chief minister in letter further stated that during the present BSP rule, mid-session transfers were done only where it was necessary.

Here she said that since the IAS, PCS, IPS and PPS officers were directly linked to the works related to the masses and were responsible for maintaining law and order and development of the state, government had no option but to transfer, or in some cases initiate action against, those who were found wanting in discharge of their duties.

Stating that her government had adopted a transparent policy regarding transfer of officials, the chief minister said that her government had never crossed the upper limit of 10 per cent annual transfers and claimed that such an arrangement was only in Uttar Pradesh.

She said that: “it would have been appropriate if before making remarks about the functioning of the state government at the governors’ meet, you had known the exact situation from me.”

In the concluding paragraph of her letter, the chief minister requested the governor that in the event of any doubt, he should seek information from the state government which was always eager to reply to his queries.

She also requested the governor to extend his cooperation to the state government in discharging its constitutional duties to establish the rule of law.


Source : Times Of India

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Chiru to meet people displaced by projects

HYDERABAD: Enthused by the huge response he received from the weavers of Sircilla, Prajarajyam president Chiranjeevi is looking at 'project-affected persons' (PAP) as his next target audience.

"People affected by SEZ in Mahbubnagar district, tribals being uprooted by the bauxite mining in Vizag area and fishermen facing the threat of evacuation to make way for coastal corridors. Chiranjeevi wants to meet all these sections to know the dark side of the so-called development in the state, " sources told 'TOI' .

"Though the suicide of farmers and weavers is a serious matter, the plight of the project-affected persons is equally a serious one. Even though some NGOs are working to help them, political parties have not been able to visualise the true dimension of the PAP," the sources said. As of now there are nearly 10 lakh people facing the threat of evacuation due to various projects and "the compensation is meagre. Rehabilitation is either not taken up or is tardy, and above all the cultural shock they received due to uprooting is immense," the sources said.

Party spokesman P Prabhakar said PRP would not indulge in abusing other political parties but would instead go directly to the suffering masses. It would not only understand their problems but come out with alternative plans to improve their lives.

Among other issues, chronic fluoride problem in Nalgonda districts also finds place in the priority list of the star. Apart from these familiarisation trips to problematic regions in the state, "The star is particular about visiting the church in the Medak town and the famous Pedda Masjid in Kadapa," the sources added.



Source : Times Of India

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Modi set to be BJP's anti-terror mascot

NEW DELHI: As the government mulls whether to bring a special law to fight terror, its principal challenger BJP has already got into the act, taking up terrorism in a big way even before dates for the coming assembly polls are announced. It has also drafted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in what promises to be a high decibel campaign.

The top BJP leadership including party chief Rajnath Singh, senior leaders L K Advani and Arun Jaitley, will be joined on stage by Modi, the party's star anti-terror campaigner, for a rally in Karol Bagh here on Friday.

The rally, which comes within a week of Saturday's serial blasts that rocked the capital, is a clear statement of the BJP's intent to highlight the Centre's ''failure'' on the internal security front.

Modi, after the Gujarat police's success in nabbing SIMI activists and others behind the Ahmedabad blasts a month back, has emerged as the opposition's key campaigner against terror.

The Gujarat CM, who emerged as one of the most important faces of the party at the BJP's national executive last weekend in Bangalore, is tipped to be the main attraction at Friday's rally.

Source : Times Of India

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Life term for Bihar JD(U) MLA, four others

PATNA: A suspended JD(U) MLA Sunil Pandey and four others were sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court here on Wednesday for kidnapping noted neuro surgeon Dr Ramesh Chandra. ( Watch )

Additional District and Sessions Judge Vijay Prakash Mishra also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of them.

The court also rejected the bail bonds of four other accused who failed to appear and issued fresh non-bailable warrants against them and showcause notices to those who had furnished their bail bonds.

Dr Chandra was kidnapped from near Panchmandir on Serpentine Road on May 17, 2003 by the suspended Piro MLA and his cohorts for ransom of Rs 50 lakh.

Chandra was later rescued by the police from Chiraura village under Naubatpur police station.

The accused were tried under sections 364 (A) (kidnapping), 34 (common intention) and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

Source : Times Of India

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Pressure on govt to act against Bajrang Dal

NEW DELHI: With attacks on Christians spreading across the country, the Centre is under intense pressure to act against the Sangh extreme outfit, Bajrang Dal.

Minority leaders are demanding that the Centre take law and order in its hands because the Karnataka government is allegedly soft on the Dal, but the UPA appeared keen to deflect responsibility of taking action on to the state government.

On Tuesday, PM Manmohan Singh despatched a fact-finding team, comprising members of the National Minorities Commission (NCM) and National Commission for Women (NCW) to Karnataka. Minorities Commission chairman S Y Qureshi, member Harcharan Singh Josh and NCW chairperson Girija Vyas were all in Mangalore, the epicentre of the violence.

Congress general secretary Magaret Alva and Veerappa Moily briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the situation. Referring to the violence, Alva told TOI, "There are attacks on innocent people. The state has to provide security to religious places."

On the Centre's role in quelling violence, Alva said that only after NCM and NCW submit reports can any action be taken. "The PM has spoken to the Karnataka CM and governor," she added.

As the conversion fire refused to die down, labour minister Oscar Fernandes, who hails from Mangalore, discussed the situation with home minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday.

Rejecting the Sangh Parivar claim that the attacks were provoked by conversions, he said, "They must tell where conversions have taken place." Terming the attacks on churches as an attempt to divide people, he said, "The law enforcing agencies should see if there has been any violation of law without allowing hoodlums to take the law into their own hands."

Accusing Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa of letting the Bajrang Dal go on a rampage, Fernandes said that such incidents could not have taken place without the connivance of the state government. "What more do you expect from a CM who says that Gujarat is his model?" he asked.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, who is in charge of Orissa, held Bajrang Dal squarely responsible for the attack on Christians in the state. He said the state government was a mute witness to the violence. He said, "They (Bajrang Dal) can't take law in their hands. They have no right to vandalise institutions. The state governments are responsible for protecting minority institutions and must be held accountable."

Singh attacked the state's laxity when he pointed out that VHP leader Praveen Togadia was allowed to make inflammatory speeches even as the Union home minister was prevented from touring the affected area. He reiterated that there were constitutional provisions that the Centre could invoke in such cases.

Christian organisations have been critical of the state's inaction. United Christian Forum for Human Rights national convener John Dayal said it was painful to observe that neither the states nor the Centre had the political will or capability to act even as violence continued in Orissa, MP and Karnataka.


Source : Times Of India

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Chiru training thousands to guard him, handle crowds

HYDERABAD: With film actor Chiranjeevi's camp worried at the reported denial of the state police to allocate additional personnel to the Prajarajyam chief, his close aides are training thousands of young men across the state to get them accustomed to techniques of crowd controlling and policing during his proposed political tour across the state.

At present, the star's younger brother Pavan Kalyan is overseeing all security issues . Nearly 150 'commandos' sporting black uniforms are under his direct supervision for guarding the megastar and his family. Though the film actor has been allotted two personal gunmen for round-the-clock security by the state government , ex-cops in in the actor's camp feel that the actor needs more protection. Nagendra Babu's aides have also started recruiting well-built young men from existing private security agencies for imparting necessary training to upgrade them as personal bodyguards to the megastar.

Sources said that J S Rao, a ticket aspirant from Nalgonda and said to be close to Allu Aravind, is handling the task. Rao, a body builder by profession, has been instrumental in imparting training to these select young men at an apartment complex under his custody in Filmnagar.

At least 350 of them are undergoing a tough training regime from 5.30 am, learning judo and karate. They are also being trained in mob dispersion and rapid action skills to rescue the megastar to safety, in case die-hard fans go on a rampage. Incidentally, most of these young men from Rayalaseema.

Meanwhile, it is reliably learnt that another 3,000 non-Telugu speaking people are also being trained by individual agencies in the neighbouring state away from public glare and under the direct supervision of a member of the Chiranjeevi family.

Source : Times Of India

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Chiru turns down Cong's challenge for debate

HYDERABAD: Refusing to be drawn into a public debate on the issue of development in the state, Prajarajyam supremo Chiranjeevi said he could not afford to spare time for public debates at this juncture.

Talking to the media at the party office on Monday, he said he had more pressing work of the party than getting locked up in public debates on one issue or the other. The megastar was reacting to a challenge thrown by information minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy to him for an open public debate on the welfare measures initiated by chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. On Monday, he presented several leaders from Krishna, Prakasam and Nalgonda districts to the media as having joined hands with him.

Referring to the debate challenge, he said he was busy with arrangements to be made for his Meet-the-People tour, discussions on various issues with people etc. "These types of debates are a waste of time. I am not free now to indulge in the luxury of engaging in discussions in public," he said.


Source : Times Of India

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Court stays custodial interrogation of Amarinder Singh

CHANDIGARH: In a major relief to former Punjab chief minister and senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday stayed his custodial interrogation by the Punjab vigilance bureau in a multi-million-rupee land scam.
Admitting Amarinder Singh's petition challenging the Punjab assembly's decision to last week expel him for involvement in the land scam, the high court stayed his custodial interrogation.
Justices A K Goel and Ajay Tewari also issued a notice to the Punjab assembly to reply about the expulsion.

Amarinder Singh was last Wednesday expelled from the assembly for the remaining three and a half year term after a house committee recommended this action. He, along with other officials, was found "guilty" by the committee of favouring a private builder in a multi-million-rupee land deal in Amritsar.

The former chief minister went to London last week after being expelled from the assembly.

The Punjab vigilance bureau had registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including forgery, fraud and conspiracy, against Amarinder Singh, former local bodies minister Jagjit Singh and five others in connection with the loss to the state in the Amritsar land deal.

The vigilance bureau was told to register a case by the assembly.

There were speculations that the vigilance officials could arrest him to question him regarding the deal but the high court stay will put a stop to that.

The ruling Akali Dal in Punjab was demanding Amarinder Singh's arrest and this is likely to be a major setback for the party, particularly Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal.

Amarinder Singh, when he was Punjab chief minister (2002-07), had arrested present Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal in a corruption case.

Amarinder Singh had described his expulsion from the assembly, where he represented the Patiala assembly seat, as "undemocratic and unconstitutional".

He had vowed to fight the Akalis on this issue, especially in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Source : Times Of India

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UPA is only passing time in office: Modi

BANGALORE: At BJP's national executive, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has been at the centre of action, delivering a much-noticed speech to his colleagues and leading a sharp attack on the government's handling of internal security. TOI asked Modi about the media projecting him as a BJP mascot, a rung below L K Advani.

Q: Don't you feel your work in Gujarat is almost over and it is time you moved to the national scene?

A: As far as a chief minister is concerned, he is part of national politics, whether he is from Gujarat or elsewhere. As far as working for Gujarat's development is concerned, I feel sky is the limit. There can be no full stops to developmental work... innovation and initiatives are always required. You cannot fulfil people's needs in one lifetime.

Q: But as an individual you may want to do more at the national level. If you are asked to head the party, will you want to do it?

A: When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was PM, Venkaiah Naiduji was party president, when Advaniji is the prime ministerial candidate, Rajnath Singhji is looking after the party! As far as organisational work is concerned, when I reach the bridge, I will cross it.

Q: What is your opinion on BJP's prospects?

A: BJP is at the centrestage. It is ahead in terms of leadership. Probably, India does not have another leader like Advaniji who has visited 400 districts in the course of his long political career and that is why he understands real issues and problems. Organisationally, BJP is the biggest in the country now and in power in most important states except Uttar Pradesh. Alongwith its NDA partners, it shares power in important states. As opposed to this, the present government at the Centre is a faceless one, meaning it has no issues, achievements or individuals that it can be identified with. They (UPA) are only passing time. It cannot control inflation it is the first government whose decisions one after the other has been overruled by SC.

For the first time, we have a government that says something in Parliament and in the US, George Bush says something else. It protects terrorists. It repealed POTA, it has been denying legislations like GUJCOCA, national security is an issue today.

Q: You mentioned UP which is dominated by SP and BSP. Do you have a formula to improve things for your party in the state?

A: The Congress was dominant in UP which is why the state was always very closely connected to national politics. The people of UP want to be part of the national mainstream. I am hopeful of drastic changes in UP this time.

Q: Congress is setting out on Navnirman yatra in Gujarat?

A: Interestingly, Chimanbhai Patel was accused in the Navnirman scam, and today his son is heading a rathyatra in the state and calling it Navnirman yatra. What should I say after this. And, for the last 20 years, Congress hated raths and rathyatras, but now they are having to follow BJP's footsteps and set out on a rathyatra.

Q: Do you feel the need for a image makeover for acceptability at the national level?

A: Image makeover? If I serve other people, I can't be thinking of my image. I'm working for the image of Gujarat and branding of Gujarat. I don't have time to think about my own image.


Source : Times Of India

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UPA governemnt not cooperating with Karnataka: Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: BJP ruled Karnataka has accused the Centre of "neglect and step motherly treatment" on all issues as Congress has turned panicky in the wake of the southern state slipping out of its fold.

At the same time the B S Yeddyurappa led government has offered an olive branch to its neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and said it was ready to discuss outstanding inter-state disputes if the Centre took the lead.

"It is all out of frustration as they are panicky because they are loosing ground in a state which stood by them even during emergency days when the Congress had lost elsewhere across the country," Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said.

Expressing displeasure on the non-cooperation from the Centre when the state approached it for supply of fertilizers to farmers during this Kharif sowing season and for immediate financial assistance for relief to flood and drought affected people, Yeddyurappa said "neglect and step motherly treatment is being meted out to my state".

"There is not even a single instance in which the Centre cooperated with Karnataka," said Yeddyurappa, whose government completed 100 days in office on September 9.

The chief minister says he has already asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the lead to convene a meeting of concerned chief ministers to resolve inter-state issues.

Commenting on the non-cooperation of opposition Congress and JDS in the state, Yeddyurappa asked them to "join hands in development".

"From the day my government came to power, the opposition parties have been making attempts to destabilise it," he alleged.

Yeddyurappa, whose leadership helped the BJP come to power for the first time in the South, however shrugs off queries as to what advice he wanted to give for spreading the party's reach in the South.

"I am a humble worker. It is for the leadership to decide what has to be done. My job is limited to Karnataka and whatever directions the party leadership gives, I will follow," Yeddyurappa said.

The chief minister also sidesteps queries on whether Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi was his role model. "Our role model is Atal Behari Vajpayee," is his refrain. At the same time he is all praises for the development work done by Modi.

Yeddyurappa said he would change the face of Karnataka and particularly Bangalore city in the next five years and "if I fail to do so, I will quit politics".


Source : Times Of India

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Cong tickets: Call for merit over quota

NEW DELHI: A desperate call to stamp out the infamous but all-pervasive "quota system" was raised at the CWC meeting, with speakers from poll-bound states saying the practice of the satraps distributing tickets among their supporters instead of choosing candidates on merit should be ended if the party has to fare well at the hustings. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi led the charge with an 'enough is enough' type of exhortation. She said, "We cannot continue with the quota system."

What came out of the CWC meeting was a concern that infighting and ignoring merit in the candidate selection could upset the party applecart in the packed poll season.

Sonia warned against assuming victory in the BJP-ruled states because of anti incumbency, saying that nothing happened on its own these days and reminding workers how mutual animosity had tripped the party in the past. It almost set the tone, with party leaders from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh andMadhya Pradesh railing against the 'quota system' and infighting. Congress is a bitterly divided camp in these states which, it is feared, could neutralisethe incumbency disadvantage of BJP.

There were enough potshots. While MPCC chief Suresh Pachauri called for unity in the state unit, he was seen as referring to recent announcements from public platforms that Union minister Kamal Nath be the CM candidate. Mahendra Karma of Chhattisgarh was seen as aiming at Ajit Jogi when he said a few leaders made statements as if they were above the party. Rajasthan PCC chief CP Joshi too made strong observations.

While their's were words of concern flagging the urgency of a united face in the poll field, they did underscore that the state satraps were yet to bury the hatchet ahead of the crucial polls. Congress is comforted this year by the advance poll preparations in contrast to the past when it left the candidate selection and the campaign strategy for last days, with Sonia Gandhi herself monitoring the implementation of Antony committee's recommendations. The manifesto committee under Pranab Mukherjee has also circulated its draft to various social groups and partymen for comments, and it is expected to be ready in time.

The party feels it can use the nuclear deal to take on the rival BJP which is set to make an assault with terror and Hindutva as its poll planks. Congress is specially enthused by the assurances that inflation would soon be heading south. FM Chidambaram said the fiscal measures had begun to show trends and results would kick in by November.

Source : Times Of India

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Jaitley not keen on being BJP candidate for Delhi CM

BANGALORE: As BJP gears for a string assembly elections, attention has been focused on the party's chief ministerial choice for Delhi with the name of senior leader Arun Jaitley doing the rounds and being seen by some quarters as an effective nominee to take on the Congress in the Capital.

Some BJP leaders have broached the subject with Jaitley who remains uninterested in the prospect, pointing out that he has never been involved in local politics and has no interest in relinquishing his key role in the party's central set-up. The lawyer is understood to have said that he feels more suited for the role as BJP strategist, while declining the overtures.

Jaitley's profile might tempt some in BJP to seek his projection as this would also overcome the factional tensions in the state unit between leaders like Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Goel and V K Malhotra. But it is also being pointed out that placing Jaitley in the poll fray is no guarantee that factionalism will end. In 1998, BJP's decision to make Sushma Swaraj CM just ahead of elections only resulted in sabotage by state leaders.

In any case, Jaitley's role as BJP's key campaign strategist would be important to the party ahead of next year's general elections which are in all likelihood expected to be hard fought. It has been suggested that Jaitley could lead the party in Delhi and then move to a Lok Sabha seat next year. So far, the former law minister does not seem interested. This argument is also somewhat fraught as such talk may damage the BJP and allow Congress to argue that there is no use voting for a leader who will not lead the city government. The projection could then backfire.

Senior BJP leaders like L K Advani and party chief Rajnath Singh feel that the proposal is worth considering. However, the issue for Advani is also whether Jaitley can be spared of his considerable central duties in the crucial run-up to next year's general elections in a situation when the Leader of Opposition is vying for the Prime Minister's job. Jaitley is an important interlocutor with BJP units of Madhya Pradesh, J&K, Bihar, UP and Karnataka and even Rajasthan.

A Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Jaitley is not averse to the idea of contesting a Lok Sabha seat from either Gujarat, Punjab or even Delhi, but he is clear in the mind about not limiting himself to being a state leader from the Capital. Jaitley has held several portfolios as Union minister in the NDA regime and been a core players in the party's organization.


Source : Times Of India

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Former TDP MP Ramachandraiah joins Chiranjeevi's party

HYDERABAD: The political migration towards "Praja Rajyam", floated by Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi, continued today with another former TDP MP C Ramachandraiah joining the party and vowing to work for its success.
Ramachandraiah, a former Rajya Sabha member and prominent backward class leader from Kadapa district, joined the new party in the presence of the actor.
Ramachandraiah, who was with TDP since its inception in 1982 and held several key positions in the regional party, had resigned from Rajya Sabha recently following differences with the party leadership.
Speaking to reporters at Praja Rajyam Party office here, he said he was drawn towards Chiranjeevi's ideals of social justice, equality and corruption-free governance.
"I am confident that under Chiranjeevi's leadership, we will usher in the much-needed change in the society," he said.
Ramachandraiah, once considered a close confidant of TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, said the regional party had deviated from the original ideals and objectives of the founder and matinee idol late N T Rama Rao.
"In Chiranjeevi, I see the same kind of commitment and dedication that NTR was endowed with," he said.
Ramachandraiah's move is the latest in the series of desertions from the main opposition TDP.

Source : Times Of India

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Mega BJP rally to affect traffic

BANGALORE: The big BJP bash, part of its national executive meeting in Bangalore, is all set to throw traffic out of gear around the National College grounds in Basavanagudi on Saturday evening. The international airport road is also likely to be jammed, as most BJP stalwarts will fly back late in the evening.

The BJP rally will start at 6 pm at the National College grounds. Over 1 lakh people are expected to participate in the event where many national leaders will speak.

VVIP movement from Residency Road, where the national executive is being held, will start at about the same time. This will have an impact on traffic movement on St Mark's Road, Kasturba Road, Rajaram Mohan Roy Road, Lalbagh Road and KR Road between 5 pm and 6 pm.

Heavy vehicular movement and parking problems are likely on KR Road, Bull Temple Road and Gandhi Bazaar from 2 pm once party workers begin streaming to the rally venue.

When the rally ends at about 8 pm, VVIP movement will start again. This time, traffic will be disrupted on KR Road, JC Road, Dr Ambedkar Road and Raj Bhavan Road.

While some VVIPs will head directly to the Bengaluru International Airport, others will leave by 9 pm. Traffic will be disrupted on the airport road between 8.30 pm and 10.30 pm.

Source : Times Of India

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Om Prakash Mathur heads BJP poll panel

JAIPUR: The BJP on Friday announced its state election committee for the forthcoming Assembly elections. The committee, which would be presided over by party's state chief Om Prakash Mathur, consists of 17 members.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje, MP Ramdas Agarwal, cabinet ministers Gulab Chand Kataria, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Nathu Singh Gujjar, Rajendra Singh Rathod and party's Mahila Morcha president Suman Sharma are among its members.

The committee is expected to take the final call on the list of candidates for the elections soon. Senior party members have received more than 20,000 applications for tickets, of which several are women.

The party has already announced that only 'performing' MLAs would be allotted tickets. Party leaders, including Mathur and Raje, are following the 'report card' method, maintaining records of work done by sitting MLAs after approaching the people from their respective constituencies.

Meanwhile, after issuing orders for reconstruction of all roads in the city last week, the chief minister has now issued orders for repair of all the roads across the state.

On Raje's directive, a special committee to monitor the repair of roads, which are damaged in the monsoon, was formed on Friday. The repair work has to be completed by September 30.

Source : Times Of India

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Now, Maya gets a chance to have a go at Mulayam in SC

NEW DELHI: If the bonhomie between Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and the UPA government was followed by a CBI affidavit in the Supreme Court threatening to chargesheet Mayawati in the DA case, then on Thursday the UP chief minister and BSP supremo had enough reasons to smile.

For the Mayawati government got a chance to get even with her political rival in a case relating to alleged diversion of huge amounts from the CM's contingency funds by then chief minister Yadav for his brother Shivpal Yadav's Rs 100 crore Chaudhury Charan Singh Degree College at Etawah.

A petition alleging diversion of Rs 80 crore from the contingency funds by Yadav for the college was opposed by then state government in a 2006 affidavit saying there was no truth in the allegation. The apex court had also sought responses of then CM Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother, but both did not even bother to enter appearance or file any affidavit.

Seeking early disposal of the petition filed by Mahendra Nath Rai questioning the diversion of funds, counsel D K Garg cleverly argued before a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam that as there had been a regime change since the last affidavit by the state government, the new dispensation should be asked to file a fresh one stating whether it stood by its earlier stand.

Immediately after the CBI had filed the affidavit expressing its readiness with evidence to chargesheet her, a combative Mayawati had held a series of perss conferences alleging that this decision was taken by the Centre at the behest of Yadav's Samajwadi Party, which closed ranks with the UPA government after its divorce from the Left Front.

Thursday's order of the Supreme Court directing the matter to be posted for final hearing and allowing parties to file their responses, if any, would present an opportunity to Mayawati to dig up government records pertaining to alleged diversion of funds for the Yadav family-owned educational set up at Etawah.

This order could also force both Mulayam and his brother to file their responses to the charges levelled in the petition, which was filed in the apex court three years ago.

dhananjay.mahapatra@timesgroup.com

Source : Times Of India

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Sonia bats for Bachchans after Raj remark

NEW DELHI: In the ongoing Raj Thackeray Vs Jaya Bachchan controversy, the Bachchans have got an unlikely supporter.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed her concern over Raj Thackey's tirade against Big B and Jaya.

Margaret Alva, a senior Congress leader confirmed that the party's president is concerned and said, "I have told the Chief Minister that they are disturbing reports and that the government should really see that it does not escalate and threaten the lives and property of people in Mumbai from all parts of the country."

She added, "I met Congress President Sonia Gandhi today and I also briefed her on the situation and she will probably talk directly to the Chief Minister because she is also very concerned."

On Wednesday, super star Amitabh Bachchan apologised and sought "forgiveness" for certain remarks made by his wife Jaya, in an apparent bid to placate Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and his estranged nephew Raj Thackeray who attacked her for allegedly making anti-Marathi utterances.

"Everything that we possess today is what came to us from this great state and city. We never have and never can look at Maharashtra with disrespect. If inadvertently this is what has been construed, then we apologise and are sorry and seek forgiveness for any sentiments that have been hurt," he said.

Source : Times Of India

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MLA gets jail term for misbehaving with judge

PATNA: The Patna High Court on Wednesday awarded three months' simple imprisonment to suspended JD(U) MLA Sunil Pandey for appearing in a court in an inebriated condition and misbehaving with the judge.

Pandey, an MLA from Piro in Bhojpur district, has several criminal cases pending against him.

The high court found him guilty of misbehaving with the sub-divisional judicial magistrate of Bikramganj when he was taken to his court for production on April 10 last year.

The HC also awarded one month's simple imprisonment to sub-inspector Daroga Ram and seven days' sentence each to the five constables who escorted Pandey from the jail to the court.

A division bench comprising Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad and Justice Ravi Ranjan passed the order on a contempt petition initiated on an appeal of the Rohtas district and sessions judge. The order was passed under the provisions of Contempt of Court Act.

In course of inquiry conducted on the order of the high court, it was found that the MLA had not consumed liquor when he was taken out of Rohtas jail. It was on way to the court under police escort that liquor was made available to him.

The court acquitted the then jailer of the Rohtas jail of the charges of contempt of court.


Source : Times Of India

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President Zardari, PM Gilani agree to accept PML-N's resignations

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have agreed to accept resignations of PML-N's ministers and expansion of federal cabinet.

The decision has been taken in a meeting between President Zardari and Premier Gilani in the President House Wednesday. Premier Gilani briefed the president on key issues faced by the government.

It was decided in the meeting that resignations of PML-N members of federal cabinet would be accepted soon.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) had resigned from federal cabinet in central executive committee meeting on May 12, 2008.

An expansion and reshuffling of the federal cabinet is on the cards for sometime this week. "The formal announcement (of the expansion) would be made within the next few days," said sources.

Speaking on the occasion, President Zardari said, “Immediate measures should be taken to provide relief to the people.”

The president further said he believed in supremacy of parliament and offered his full support for stabilizing the government.

Source : The News

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Punjab's ex-CM Amarinder expelled from Assembly for 3-5 yrs

CHANDIGARH: Beleaguered former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has been expelled from the Assembly for the next three to five years over corruption charges.

He will be asked to vacate his MLA seat.

Vigilance Department has been asked to probe the corruption charges against him.

Amarinder Singh, who is facing graft charges, on Wednesday, said he feared arrest but will not seek anticipatory bail even as his party rival Rajinder Bhattal asked him to come clean on the allegations.

The Congress leader was indicted by a special committee of the Punjab Assembly for alleged irregularities in exempting 32.10 acres of land for private development in Amritsar during his tenure as chief minister.

"I am carrying anticipatory bail plea in my pocket... but I will not use it," Singh had said.

He had alleged that the Akali Dal-BJP combine government could take any decision against him but he would not leave unchallenged any move to disqualify him from the House.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Bhattal, Singh's bete noire, had said the party stands by Singh but he should explain the allegations against him and let the truth come to fore.

Source : Times Of India

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Good news on Kashmir likely before LS polls in India: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Suggesting that there could be forward movement on resolving the Kashmir issue soon, Pakistan's new President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said there will be "some good news" before the general elections in India slated for next year.

"Insha Allah, we will have some good news" on Kashmir before the general elections in India, Zardari said at a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai after being sworn-in as Pakistan's 12th President.

He said the PPP government will consult all political forces in Pakistan, both inside and outside Parliament, to forge some kind of a strategy to resolve the Kashmir issue.

This will be taken to the Kashmir Committee in Parliament, Zardari said, adding the work done through back-channel diplomacy will also be part of this.

Source : Times Of India

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Don't embarrass Big B: Sena to Jaya

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna has asked Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Bachchan not to "vitiate' ' the social climate of Maharashtra by making anti-Marathi statements.

Stating that Mumbai has given a pan-Indian identity to the Bachchan clan, the newspaper-whose editor is Sena chief Bal Thackeraysaid Jaya's anti-Marathi diatribe at a recent film function amounted to confining Amitabh to Uttar Pradesh.

But political observers say the Saamna rhetoric has to be viewed against the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's on-going crusade for Marathi. "If the Sena doesn't raise its decibel level on the issue of Marathi, it risks losing its GenNext grassroots workers to the MNS in the run up to the legislative assembly elections,'' an expert said.

Incidentally, close on the heels of the MNS' campaign for Marathi signboards, senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi had held a press conference to reiterate that Marathi and Marathi 'manoos' constitute the party's agenda since its inception in the 1960s.

"Amitabh doesn't belong to a particular state or region . His art transcends barriers of caste, creed and language . However, Jaya has announced that she and her family belong to UP,'' said the Sena mouthpiece on Tuesday, adding, "Her utterances in the recent past have been a source of mental agony for Amitabh Bachchan.''

Incidentally, the saffron daily also came down heavily on Shahrukh Khan for publicly flaunting his Delhi credentials. "If he (SRK) loves Delhi then why did he come to Mumbai? These people come here, fill up their bellies and then burp in the name of their own states. However, if a Marathi reiterates his affection for Maharashtra , he is branded as parochial.'' Reference to Khan, say Sena watchers, is aimed at placating Bachchan, a close friend of Thackeray.


Source : Times Of India

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Asif Ali Zardari sworn in as president

ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari has been sworn in as 12th president of Pakistan at a ceremony in Islamabad here on Tuesday.

The oath-taking ceremony was broadcast live from the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.

Abdul Hameed Dogar, the chief justice administered the oath to president Zardari.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Asifa Bhutto Zardari were also present in the ceremony.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, members of the federal cabinet, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Army chief, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, three services chiefs, governors and chief ministers of four provinces, heads of political parties, members of parliament, foreign diplomats and civil and military bureaucrats attended the ceremony.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was also present on this occasion who was invited specially by Asif Ali Zardari.

PML-N president and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other central leaders were also present on this occasion.


Source : The News

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Congress, SP seat-sharing talks make little headway

NEW DELHI: With Samajwadi Party stoutly resisting the possibility of "friendly" fights with Congress, seat-sharing talks made little progress and the second round of negotiations ended in just 15 minutes on Monday. Both sides dug in as the SP has sought to restrict Congress’s claims to about a dozen seats.

Congress is keen that SP either concede or agree to a compromise on some of its sitting MPs while Mulayam Singh Yadav’s colleagues have argued that any such concession will only end up strengthening the rival BSP camp.

Both parties argue that compromises on 'key seats' would trigger revolts in their local units. As a solution, Congress is insisting that the alliance be sealed with 'friendly fights' in its traditional seats like Pratapgarh, Rampur, Farrukhabad and Padrauna.

But SP is not ready for this. Congress is worried if these seats were to go to SP's kitty, it could trigger a split in local units, besides reflecting badly on the negotiating skills of party interlocutors.

SP's Ram Gopal Yadav argued that if strong candidates were sacrificed, these individuals could either quit the party or simply not back Congress, implying that BSP would be the beneficiary in such an arrangement. The sticking point saw SP and Congress leave the table, with Yadav saying he would discuss the option of 'friendly fight' with Mulayam, who has also flown to Delhi. This may well be the only way to iron out virtually irreconciliable positions.

AICC is confident the deal would be sealed with the SP and Congress taking on each other in five to six seats. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, who is part of team led by Rahul Gandhi and which includes UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna, said negotiations were cordial and a consensus had been struck on 90% seats. The negotiations could get tougher as sources said Samajwadis want to give only 12 seats to Congress — nine sitting MPs and three where Congress led SP in 2004 — Khurja, Domariaganj and Bareilly.

What is squeezing the scope for a compromise is personalised rivalries which the parties are not sure they can control and which would defeat the objective of containing BSP.

In Rampur, SP leader Azam Khan has a bitter battle going with former Congress MP Noor Bano, and would work against her even in an alliance while in Pratapgarh, CLP leader Pramod Tiwari and former MP Ratna Singh are unlikely to accept any decision to sit out for Akshaya Pratap Singh, a close aide of Kunda strongman Raja Bhaiyya.

SP is claiming Padrauna where independent MP Baleshwar Yadav, who joined the party during the trust vote, has sought nomination for Brahma Shankar Tripathi. AICC wants the seat for its MLA R P N Singh. The alliance has already set off a churn, with Kamlesh Paswan leaving SP in reserved Bansgaon seat as he saw no chance of getting a nod over Union minister Mata Prasad in an alliance.

Amid the bare-knuckle bargaining, Congress decision to take four SP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh has struck a sore point and, AICC sources said, the issue was brought to the notice of the top leadership.

Besides known seats, Congress sources said it had sought accommodation of SP rebel and actor Raj Babbar from Fatehpur Sikri, P L Punia from Barabanki and Beni Prasad Verma from Gonda.

But Samajwadis are learnt to be readying a BJP MLA for Sikri while they don't want to help Verma who is seen as a traitor. With the newfound allies eager to confront a strongly placed Mayawati with an eye on the post-poll scene, sources said Ajit Singh's RLD is also in contention, but was still to be discussed.

The RLD is seen as a factor in western UP and a broader alliance with him would not let Mayawati have a free run as in the Assembly polls.

However, AICC may want to get extra seats for him when the Samajwadis would want to get him coupled with the Congress share.
Source : Times Of India

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Chiru fans turn to Gandhigiri

TIRUPATI: It’s a metamorphosis the Mahatma would smile at. After goondagiri, Chiru’s fans are now moving towards Gandhigiri. This comes as not too long ago ardent fans of the star attacked the actor couple Rajasekhar and Jeevitha as Rajasekhar, in response to a question by the media, said that Chiru lacked the experience to enter politics.

But that was when Chiru was yet to launch Prajarajyam. Now, the party, which purportedly is inspired by the Mahatma, among others has made Gandhigiri its credo. Give bouquets in response to brickbats, even if they are of the verbal variety. Here’s how Prajarajyam activists swept the roads in the temple town of Tirupati in a symbolic protest against TDP Telugu Mahila wing chief R K Roja’s remarks against the matinee idol. In a typical Gandhigiri fashion, they offered flowers to the photograph of the film actor-turned TDP activist.

“Henceforth, we would offer bouquets to her whenever she visits the district,” a Prajarajyam leader said. The trigger to the floral response? Addressing mediapersons after the party’s SC Cell meeting here on Monday evening, Roja said Chiranjeevi is a novice in politics whereas she is a known face not only in Andhra Pradesh, but also in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as an actor as well as a politician.

The firebrand actor, who made serious allegations against the Prajarajyam chief a couple of days ago, once again spit fire at Chiranjeevi saying films and politics are two different fields. “We might have acted in films, but in politics we belong to two different parties and we are rivals,” she thundered.

Denouncing the Prajarajyam chief’s comments against the Congress and the TDP, Roja said it would be better for Chiranjeevi to be clear on his party’s policies and agenda instead of throwing mud at other parties.

On the protests by the Prajarajyam workers over her remarks against Chiranjeevi, she said: “Criticisms and counter-attacks are part and parcel of politics. Prajarajyam claims it follows the Gandhian way, but why should its workers stage protests?” she questioned. But who can deny that the roja (rose) offered to her photo and the promise to offer bouquets when she comes visiting by Prajarajyam’s activists are Gandhian enough?

Source : Times Of India

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CPM vows to continue battle on nuclear deal

NEW DELHI: Calling the NSG waiver "another surrender by the Manmohan Singh government", CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday said the battle against the nuclear deal would be fought in the political arena.

Briefing newspersons after the party's two-day politburo meeting, Karat said the Left would continue to struggle against the deal and when a new government came to power after the next elections, it would demand termination of the 123 agreement.

"The struggle to rescind the agreement is not over. We had told the government to go to the people and seek a verdict," Karat said, adding that the NSG waiver was "neither clean nor unconditional".

"It will bind India to all the conditions set out in the Hyde Act. Whatever be the claim of the ruling coalition, India had made all these commitments to the US in 2005," he said, adding that the Left's basic opposition was to the 123 agreement and the Hyde Act.

The NSG waiver, Karat said, ensured that the voluntary moratorium on testing had now become part of a multilateral commitment. Restrictions on transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology would continue. It would mean that India had committed itself to US efforts to deny Iran the fuel cycle, he said, adding that joining US efforts on Iran was one of the conditions of the Hyde Act. "India has become part of the non-proliferation regime which it always held to be discriminatory," he said.

Giving details of the politburo meeting, Karat said the party took stock of its poll preparedness and possible tie-ups. He said in the last central committee meeting, it was decided not to tie up with any ally of UPA. It would mean no truck with DMK, RJD and others. In Andhra Pradesh, Karat said nothing had been decided. There is talk of the Left tying up with actor Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam.

The politburo, Karat said, has also demanded stern action against Bajrang Dal.

Source : Times Of India

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SP wooing Chiru to fight Maya

HYDERABAD: The Samajwadi Party unfolded its political gameplan of entering South India as well as extending its fight with BSP leader Mayawati south of the Vindhyas by wooing newly-turned politician Chiranjeevi here on Sunday.

In a message clearly intended to convey to Chiranjeevi that the SP can match him in glamour and grandeur, the party's general secretary Amar Singh flew into Hyderabad in a private plane from New Delhi and was met with by his party MPs Jaya Bachchan and Jayaprada, who came in from Mumbai. The trio then drove down to the Prajarajyam party office in a black Rolls Royce around 4.30 pm and had an hour-long meeting with Chiranjeevi.

According to sources, the SP has decided to exploit AP for both political and business interests. The former, because TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has already established a tie-up with the SP's arch rival Mayawati both at the national and state level. "After the vote of confidence motion, the left-Mayawati-TDP combine wants to cement their bonhomie further. It is only natural for the SP to counter it as well as scout for new terrain and Chiranjeevi, the novice, was the best bet," one leader said.

The business interests for SP in AP too are huge. Top businessman Anil Ambani, who along with Amar Singh, Mulayam Singh and Amitabh Bachchan have knit themselves into a powerful politico-business-entertainment lobby, has huge interests in the state. Apart from the oil interests in the Krishna-Godavari basin, telecommunications, and entertainment, Anil Ambani's Reliance Fuel Resources Limited ( RFRL) is planning to lay a Rs 16,000-crore natural gas pipeline from Kakinada to Dadri in UP where he wants to set up a power plant.

"Therefore, it would make great sense for the SP to look for some sort of tie-up with Chiranjeevi as they would benefit greatly if he is swept to power. A lot of issues figured in the meeting," one leader said. The private aircraft for Amar and the Rolls Royce for the party leaders were said to be courtesy Anil Ambani.

For the record though, Amar Singh told the media that the meeting was 'purely a courtesy call.' "It was only a courtesy call. We came here to congratulate him as he took a decision to tread a very difficult path. Amitabh Bachchan also asked me to convey his best wishes to Chiranjeevi as they are good friends. Amitji is abroad and therefore could not join us," he said.

Source : Times Of India

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President-elect Zardari prepares to be sworn in

ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari is expected to be sworn in as Pakistan's president on Monday, capping a remarkable rise from jail, exile and his wife Benazir Bhutto's assassination just nine months ago, an official said.

The controversial frontrunner won more than two-thirds of the vote among lawmakers on Saturday, taking power in the world's only nuclear-armed Islamic state and frontline US "war on terror" ally.

In a short television address following the result Zardari said his triumph was a victory for democracy, a barbed reference to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, whose August 18 resignation triggered the election.

Bhutto's widower was hailed by world leaders soon after, with the United States and Britain pledging to work closely to secure stability and economic prosperity in Pakistan.

Zardari will take charge of a country that has been riven by Islamic militancy, with nearly 1,200 people killed in bombings and suicide attacks in the past year.

The economy is also in trouble with rampant inflation and a plunging stock market that has lost around 40 percent of its value since January, in a country already reliant on foreign aid.

The militant threat was underscored in the northwestern city of Peshawar during voting Saturday, when a suicide car-bomber rammed a police checkpost killing 16 people and wounding more than 80.

The unrest is seen as a backlash by militants angry at former president Musharraf's support for the United States.

Tensions rose further this week after a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, whose car was hit by sniper fire as it drove to meet him at an airport on Wednesday.

Zardari, 53, defeated retired chief justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, who was backed by former premier Nawaz Sharif, and Mushahid Hussain, a close aide of Musharraf, in Saturday's election.

As co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, formerly led by his wife, Zardari already heads a fragile coalition government which, although still in office, recently lost the backing of Sharif's party.

But Bhutto's widower and political heir will now gain wide powers, including the right to dismiss governments and appoint leaders of the military, which has ruled Pakistan for half of its 61-year existence.

He will become the 14th president in Pakistan's short but turbulent history and is likely to be sworn in on Monday.

"The decision will be taken shortly and the swearing in ceremony is expected to take place probably on Monday," PPP
spokesman Farhatullah Babar told AFP.

"There is no set programme for Sunday. Party leaders and officials are expected to meet Asif Ali Zardari and greet him on his election win," he added.

Zardari had been the clear favourite to take power after Musharraf's nearly nine-year rule, which came to an end when he quit office under threat of impeachment.

Leaders in Western countries joined Pakistan's neighbours Iran and Afghanistan in congratulating Zardari's victory.

In Washington, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said US President George W. Bush "looks forward to working with him ... and the government of Pakistan on issues important to both countries."

Those include "counterterrorism and making sure Pakistan has a stable and secure economy," he added.

Zardari, once dubbed "Mr Ten Percent," spent a total of 11 years in jail on charges ranging from corruption to murder.

An amnesty signed by Musharraf cleared him of all corruption charges last year and allowed him and Bhutto to return to Pakistan and end years in exile.

Source : Hindustan Times

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PM, Pranab welcome end of isolation

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who had the biggest stakes in the drama that was played out in Vienna for three days, duly welcomed the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) decision on Saturday after the war was won.

The Prime Minister — who had risked the stability of his government on this issue — said after the 45-nation club that controls global nuclear commerce agreed in Vienna to grant India a wavier for conducting international trade that it would end India’s 35-year-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream.

He said the waiver was a “recognition of India’s impeccable non-proliferation credentials and its status as a state with advanced nuclear technology.”

Pranab Mukherjee said the waiver was a culmination of a process which had started three years back. “The journey has not only been long but required several steps to be taken sequentially including intense bilateral negotiations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Singh also came in for praise from the US President George W. Bush for his “strong leadership.” Bush called Singh minutes after the news of the NSG clearance came in from Vienna and praised his handling of the entire issue, PMO officials said.

Foreign Ministry officials said the turning point in the talks came on Saturday morning, when both the US and India reasoned with China about the importance of granting the waiver to New Delhi.

“President Bush spoke to President Hu Jintao and asked him to be reasonable. Here in Delhi, the Chinese ambassador was spoken to and it was conveyed that Beijing’s stand in the NSG should reflect the strategic partnership between the two countries,” the official said.

The Chinese opposition to the waiver at the 11th hour was cited by Samajwadi Party as proof of the deal being in national interest. “There was never a question on the deal being not good for the country,” SP general secretary Amar Singh said.

“China first tried to build internal resistance to the deal through its friends here and when it failed, it tried to take its opposition to the international level.”


Source : Hindustan Times

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Zardari set to be new Pak president as poll begin

ISLAMABAD: Members of Pakistan's parliament and four provincial assemblies began voting in a presidential election on Saturday to choose a replacement for Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month. ( Watch )

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, whose Pakistan People's Party (PPP) heads a coalition government, is expected to win.

The result is due later on Saturday. "God willing, the PPP has a clear majority and the PPP will win. Mr Zardari will become president and will make the democratic and parliamentary system strong," PPP spokeswoman and member of parliament Farzana Raja said on her way in to the assembly to vote.

Investors hope the election by members of the two-chamber parliament and four provincial assemblies will bring some stability after months of political turmoil that helped drag stocks and the rupee sharply lower.

Whoever wins will have to contend with a host of problems that have raised fears for the prospects of the nuclear-armed US ally, including surging militant violence and an economy in crisis.

Zardari, known as a polo-playing playboy in his younger days, was thrust into the centre of politics by his wife's assassination on December 27.

A February parliamentary election win by their Pakistan People's Party (PPP) made him one of the most powerful figures in the country.

His decision in August to begin impeachment proceedings against Musharraf led to the latter's resignation, and cleared the way for Zardari to win the top job.

His two rivals for president are Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, a former judge, nominated by ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a senior official of the party that backed Musharraf and ruled under him.

The PPP has the most electoral college votes and despite some doubts about Zardari's suitability, party members will stick by him, making victory virtually a foregone conclusion, analysts say.

JAIL, DOUBTS
Zardari, 53, spent 11 years in jail on corruption and other charges stemming from his time in government when his wife was prime minister in the 1990s. He was never convicted and said the charges were politically motivated. But in an indication of the doubts Zardari faces, a poll by Gallup Pakistan found only 26 per cent of about 2,000 people questioned thought he should be president, while 44 per cent didn't want any of the three candidates.

Political uncertainty, exacerbated by a split in the PPP-led coalition last month, together with security and economic worries have sapped investor confidence and dragged Pakistani stocks down 34 per cent this year.

The main index rose 1 per cent on Friday, helped by optimism the vote will bring some clarity. The rupee has lost 20 percent to the dollar this year but firmed to 76.40/50.

Dwindling foreign reserves, a widening current account deficit and sliding rupee could result in a ratings downgrade as doubts mount over its ability to meet external debt obligations.

But it will probably avoid sovereign debt default as its stability is such an important geopolitical factor institutions such as the International Monetary Fund will eventually help it meet its obligations, analysts say.

Zardari is close to the United States and has repeatedly stressed Pakistan's commitment to the campaign against militancy.

But he will take office as anger with the United States is boiling after a bloody incursion by US ground troops into a remote village on the Afghan border this week.

Musharraf saw his popularity dive partly because he was viewed as too close to President George W Bush.

Zardari will walk a tightrope as he tries to assure Washington of his support on security while trying to calm public anger.

Source : Times Of India

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Former Bangla PM Khaleda Zia may be released next week

DHAKA: Detained former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, languishing in prison for over a year on graft charges, may be freed on bail by next week, her lawyers have claimed.

However, she will have to go through legal procedures for her release, a senior government leader has said.

"We expect her to be released as she now needs bail from courts in only two cases," the Prothom Alo newspaper quoted one of Zia's counsels as saying, a day after her high profile elder son Tarique Rahman, who was being tried in a number graft charges was released.

The lawyer's comment came as Commerce Adviser of the interim cabinet Hossain Zillur Rahman said yesterday that the government was “advancing the political process” without hampering the legal procedure for the release of Zia, the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

“She (Zia) has to seek bail in all the cases she is facing... She will be released once she is granted bail,” Rahman told newsmen.

Zia's archrival Sheikh Hasina of Awami League was released on government ‘executive order’ in June this year for treatment abroad.

The government at that time had said a process was underway to free the BNP chief in identical manner.

Both the former premiers have been charged under a number of corruption cases as part of a massive anti-graft campaign launched by the interim government soon after its installation with crucial military support after the January 11, 2007 proclamation of the state of emergency.

Source : Times Of India

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Zardari backs US against terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stands with the US against international terrorism, the Muslim nation's presidential front-runner wrote in a column appearing on Thursday amid furor over a US-led cross-border attack in Pakistani territory.

The raid in the South Waziristan tribal region was the first known foreign ground assault in Pakistan against a Taliban haven. The Pakistani government summoned the US ambassador to protest the incursion, which officials said killed at least 15 people, including civilians.

An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US troops conducted the raid Wednesday about 1 mile beyond the Afghan frontier.

The boldness of the thrust fed speculation about the intended target. But it was unclear whether any extremist leader was killed or captured in the operation, which occurred in one of the militant strongholds dotting a frontier region considered a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida's no. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned the attack in an impassioned speech to lawmakers on Thursday, saying it “violated the sovereignty of Pakistan.” He also said “no important terrorist or high-value target” was killed.

“Innocent citizens, including women and children, have been targeted,” Qureshi said. Officials said they had no indication US forces captured anyone in the raid. A foreign ministry spokesman said the government had no information al-Qaida leaders were in the area at the time.


Source : Times Of India

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Secret letter fallout: UPA govt must go, says BJP

NEW DELHI- Accusing the Prime Minister of “misleading” Parliament and the country on the nuclear deal issue, main opposition BJP today demanded the resignation of the Manmohan Singh government.

In a press conference addressed by senior BJP leaders Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha on Thursday over the ‘secret letter’, the BJP slammed the UPA government and demanded a special Parliament session be held to discuss the ‘secret letter’ fallout.

UPA has committed a gross breach of Parliament, the party said. “Once again the PM’s falsehood has been exposed,” BJP said.

On Wednesday, details of a ‘secret’ letter written by President Bush were revealed that seemingly challenged New Delhi's claim that the agreement will not constrain India's right to conduct nuclear tests. According to the letter, the Bush administration had told the US Congress that Washington will terminate nuclear trade with India if New Delhi conducts any further nuclear test.

The Opposition party said the government knew all these details and revealed nothing to the nation. “Secret letter makes it clear that India and US position on N-deal vary.”

“The letter shows UPA government misled India. We demand that the UPA government must quit office after this betrayal,” it added.

“We are concerned about the nation’s honour,” the BJP said.

India has so far been claiming that the deal would not constrain the country's right to nuclear tests and would provide an uninterrupted supply of fuel to India's nuclear reactors. In August 2007, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament, “The agreement does not in any way affect India's right to undertake future nuclear tests, if it is necessary.”


Source : Times Of India

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Bush's letter on N-deal: BJP, Left slam UPA govt

NEW DELHI: Reacting to the disclosure of the secret letter written by US President George W Bush to the US Congress adopting a hardline stand on the nuclear deal, the Opposition parties hit out at the government.

Left Parties slammed PM Manmohan Singh and said, “Our stand is vindicated by the disclosure. UPA has betrayed the trust of the nation.”

BJP too was not lagging behind in criticizing the government saying the Centre has been “exposed” before the nation now.

“This has brought shame to our country,“ the BJP spokesperson said.


Source : Times Of india

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Vote bank politics is protecting terrorists: Modi

NEW DELHI: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday criticised the UPA government, saying the Centre lacks commitment to tackle terrorism in the country.

Modi said he was waiting for Centre's approval for the anti-terror law for his state. "The Centre is not giving any reason for not approving it which is very surprising," he said.

"Vote bank politics is protecting terrorists in the country. But in Gujarat there we will be zero tolerance against terrorism," Modi added.

Advani who was also present in press conference was of the strong opinion that to curb activities of terror outfits, POTA-like laws should be reintroduced.

"The laws to tackle organised crime in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are yet to get the President's assent when a similar legislation is in place in Maharashtra, he said and described it as "totally unjustified".

On the delay in carrying out the execution of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru, he said, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given "no explanation" for it.

The senior leader said the previous NDA government also had to face the challenge of terrorism. "But it was majorly cross-border terrorism," he added.

Advani said the scrapping of POTA was "votebank politics and nothing else". He also said the recent violent incidents in Orissa was wrong.

"I am happy that the Orissa government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incidents," he added.


Source : Times Of India

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SAD powers poll entry

Banawala (Mansa): SAD (Badal) on Tuesday used the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 1980 MW thermal power plant at Talwandi Sabo to its full advantage by kick-starting its poll campaign for the parliamentary polls.

The loud tone used by former CM Amarinder Singh at an impressive rally in Malwa hinterland recently seems to have forced the Akalis to answer in the same tone. Euphoric and proud projecting itself as the party that would actually rid the state of power shortage, the SAD rank and file asserted that their party had heralded a new beginning on the power front that would lead the state on the path of development.

The CM lead the SAD leaders in projecting a grim picture on the power front and accused the previous Congress government for all the ills, saying they did not initiate any efforts to enhance power generation.

Lambasting Amarinder Singh, CM PS Badal said he (Amarinder) had no time to think for people's welfare and remained indulged in 'aishprasti' (making fun). In fact, every leader of some significance left no stone unturned to criticize Amarinder. Coming back to the power front, Badal said the Talwandi Sabo power plant would be the biggest in the state and would come up in three years with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore, thus making Punjab self-reliant in power sector.

Sukhbir Badal said three more power plants were in the pipeline and in the next four months work on Rajpura, Goindwal and Gidderbaha plants would also start. He said SAD government's next priority would be to provide safe drinking water to rural folks and also education and health services to all.

He said 100 new water channels would be laid in the state to overcome canal water shortage. Sukhbir tried to lure the schedule castes saying the Congress has done nothing for the 40% SC population.

'Locals will be given preference for jobs'

Terming power as the first step towards development, Vedanta group chairman Anil Aggarwal said without power no state or country could be prosperous. Chairing the power plant foundation stone laying ceremony here on Tuesday. "Local youths will be given preference while recruiting persons for the plant and about 7,000 persons will get employed at the plant where maximum workforce intake will be from the local population," Aggarwal said.

Source : Times Of India

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