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India rejects OIC statement on Kashmir
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) India today rejected the observations of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) that Kashmir issue should be resolved as per the UN resolutions, saying the grouping had "no locus standi" to comment on India's internal affairs.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said India "regrets" that OIC has "once again chosen to comment on Jammu and Kashmir and issues internal to India." The 57-nation body, in the final communique adopted at the summit which concluded yesterday in Dakar, Senegal, suggested that the Kashmir dispute be resolved in accordance with "relevant UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people".
The meeting also extended the Islamic world's support for the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to the OIC document, Sarna said: "The OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs including Jammu & Kashmir which is an integral part of India. We strongly reject all such comments." The OIC, at its meets, used to regularly comment on Kashmir issue but for the last few years it had been silent on the matter. PTI
Dalai Lama offers prayer for peace and security of Tibetans
Dharamsala, Mar 16 (PTI) Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today offered prayers for peace and security of his fellow countrymen after the violent anti-China protests in his homeland that claimed at least 10 lives.
The Dalai Lama offered prayers in Tibetans main temple at Macleodganj "Tsunglan Khanagh" for peace and security of his fellow Tibetans subjected to "brute force" by the Chinese.
He is scheduled to address media in the afternoon, his aides said.
While the Dalai Lama offered prayers, hundreds of Tibetans sat on dharna outside the temple in support of pro-independence street protesters in Lhasa.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Tibetans today held a protest march from Macleodganj to Dharamsala raising anti-China slogans.
Kangra Superintendent of Police Atul Fulzele said tight security arrangements has been made to avoid any untoward incident.
He said the foreigners participating in protest march of Tibetans here are video-graphed and their details were being sent to respective Embassies in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Tibetans protesters who started a fresh march from Dhera yesterday as part of their homeland journey managed to cross Kangra border.
By the time the information about their movement reached the police headquarters these marchers had crossed the boundry of the district, police sources said, adding neighbouring Una district has been informed about them.
When contacted, Superintendent of Police of Una Gyaneshwar Singh told PTI that tight security arrangements has been made in the district to check any untoward incident. PTI
Pay for CBI investigations: Parliamentary Committee
New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) Pay for the investigations, if you want to have a CBI probe! This was suggested by a Parliamentary Standing Committee to the Government keeping in mind the number of investigations being handed over to the already-burdened CBI.
"The Committee is of the view that the expenses incurred by the agency in the investigation and prosecution of a case should be met by the concerned Department/Ministry," the report, submitted before Parliament last week, said.
The Committee observed that such a system will ensure that the agency's work "will not suffer on account of shortage of funds" and the results would be met within a time-limit.
The Committee headed by E M Sudarsana Natchiappan in its report said the "sad state of affairs" prevalent in cases being referred to the CBI is that this is done without granting "adequate funds" required to meet the investigation and prosecution expenses.
It said the annual projections or estimates "should be calculated" by the concerned ministries or departments as to how many cases are likely to arise which may be referred for investigation, by the agency so that "separate budgetary head" should be provided for incurring such expenses.
Advocating for "same status" for the CBI director as that of his international counterparts such as the FBI, the committee said that he should "exercise powers and autonomy which are at par with those exercised by his counterparts".
"The Committee recommends that more financial powers should be vested with the Director, CBI," the report said and observed that the lack of financial autonomy acts as a "major hindrance" in the efficient working of the agency. PTI
Worst ever day of my career, says Dilip Tirkey
Y Sarangi
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Yet to get over the shock of the most disappointing day of his career, a shattered Dilip Tirkey still cannot believe that the Indian hockey team has not qualified for the Olympics.
The three-time Olympian, who missed out on a rare record of being only the fourth player from the country to have played in four Games, said the Chile debacle was the worst day in his 12-year-old international career.
"It is still difficult to accept that we have not qualified for the Olympics. March 9 was the most disappointing day of my career, worse than the loss to Poland that denied us a semifinal berth in the 2000 Sydney Games," Tirkey told PTI in an interview.
"More than my own record, it hurts to see the country sit out of the Olympics," he said.
Asserting that the team was tuned up well for the qualifiers, the former India captain said one bad day threw the side out of the Olympics.
"We had defeated England on two earlier occasions and were confident of beating them (in the final).
"The team had improved and shaped up well. It was just one bad day in the last 10 months. It was a horrible day, nothing went right for us. The whole team played badly.
"In the first half, the going was not good for us and we thought to turn things around in the second. But then came the two yellow cards which left us helpless," he said. PTI
Force India ends on wrong side of Melbourne mayhem
Amlan Chakraborty
Melbourne, Mar 16 (PTI) Force India ended up on the wrong side of the Melbourne mayhem with just seven cars managing to avert the bloodbath and finish the race in the eventful Australian Grand Prix here today.
Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella, a champion here with Renault in 2005, was shunted out by Renault's Nelson Piquet Junior in the very first lap, while Adrian Sutil, starting from the pit lane after a chassis change, sizzled for a while and cut through the cluttered mid-field before a hydraulic pressure problem cooked his goose.
Amid the ruins and wreckages of the Albert Park, Lewis Hamilton kept his cool to win the season opener, ahead of BMW's Nick Heidfeld. Nico Rosberg of Williams joined the party, notching up his first podium finish here.
Though Fisichella had moved up a place on the grid, thanks to Timo Glock's 10-place penalty, his campaign was over before it really could take off. The Italian found himself sandwiched between Glock and Piquet in the first corner and it was a messy tangle with the latter that saw Fisichella's car being craned off.
For Sutil, beginning from the pit line after a chassis change meant he had nothing to lose and the young German managed to cut his way through the mid-field jungle to 13th place by lap eight only to be undone by a hydraulic pressure failure.
"A big disappointment, especially when I watched the race afterwards," a dejected Sutil said. PTI
Hayden regrets remark on Harbhajan, wants to patch up
Melbourne, Mar 16 (PTI) Regretting his "obnoxious weed" remark on Harbhajan Singh, Australian opener Matthew Hayden said he made a mistake and was keen to patch up with the Indian off-spinner.
Hayden was sad that his poor choice of words added "fuel to the fire" as India's tour Down Under this summer was already packed with controversies.
"I don't know how Harbhajan is feeling but he made it clear how he feels about our team. To put closure on my indiscretion (calling Harbhajan an "obnoxious little weed"), I could have used a different choice of words. In 15 years of cricket, I had a slip. It wasn't to disgrace or denigrate Harbhajan," Hayden said.
"I could have gone for a different turn of phrase. In the end all I did was put fuel on a fire that already existed. It wasn't necessary. It was a mistake," the burly Aussie opener told 'The Courier Mail.' On Harbhajan calling him a "big lair," Hayden said he would like to talk to the offie and try to improve their relation.
"What I'd like to is have a chat to Harbhajan when we get to India. I want to sit down with him and see if there is any way we can move forward with our relationship because it hasn't been great. I'd like to see where he's at and see if we can patch up our differences. Frankly, everyone is sick of it." PTI
Night is right, say Fisichella, Sutil
Amlan Chakraborty
Melbourne, Mar 16 (PTI) Melbourne maybe bristling at Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone's insistence to have night race from next year but both Giancarlo Fisichella and his Force India teammate Adrian Sutil are clearly enthused by the radical idea.
Fisichella reckons it would be altogether a different experience to burn rubbers under lights, while Sutil, his younger German teammate, can't wait for the moment.
"Surely it's going to be very interesting when we get to Singapore (in September) for the first (Formula One) night race. It's a new idea and I believe it's god for the sport," Fisichella said.
"I'm happy that it's finally happening and I want to race under the lights as early as possible," said the three-time winner Italian.
Sutil echoed his view and felt it would mark a watershed in the history of Formula One racing.
"It's a completely new event and I can't wait to see it happen. Though I myself have not raced under lights, I have seen some other night races and it looked good," said the lanky youngster.
"The entire atmosphere would be different and it would be interesting to race," he said.
Sutil also reckons Singapore needs to succeed in order to leave behind a legacy.
"If everything works out well and the event proves a success, I think we would get to see a few more night races," he said. PTI
Gilly felt like "cow," but does not mind playing IPL
New Delhi, Mar 15 (PTI) Adam Gilchrist may have felt like 'a cow' after being auctioned at the cash-rich Indian Premier League, but the just-retired Australian wicketkeeper-batsman says he does not mind being part of the "unique and interesting" venture.
Gilchrist admitted that his name being auctioned was an unusual experience for him and he would wait and watch what the IPL had in store for the players.
"There was a little element of feeling like a cow. But it's interesting and unique. There is a slight uneasiness. But let us allow it to settle down," Gilchrist said at the 'India Today' conclave here today.
Gilchrist, who was bought by the Hyderabad franchise of IPL, said playing for an unfamiliar team was not an issue with him as he had switched sides in domestic cricket in Australia.
"I was born and bred in New South Wales. But I had to shift to Western Australia from where I got into the Australian team.
"IPL has financial benefits and it's only about six weeks," he said.
But, the wicketkeeper-batsman said the youngsters playing IPL should guard against getting carried away with the monetary benefits and lose focus on cricket.
"Any youngster looking at dollar signs and not cricket is not good. In IPL there is great money. But there should be respect for cricket. Actually, it's upto the individual. PTI
Investors pull out $2 bn from emerging market funds: Report
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) The volatility in stock markets has forced investors across the world to pull out over 700 million dollars from funds focused on Asian market last week, while there was an outflow of as much as two billion dollars from the emerging market equity funds, says a report.
According to the emerging market fund tracking firm, Emerging Portfolio Fund Research (EPFR), global investors have pulled out from most of the emerging markets during the second week of March, as investors fretted about the loss of export competitiveness in the face of a slumping dollar and showed little confidence in the view that growth in key emerging markets is decoupled from the US economic cycle.
Investors pulled out USD 2.01 billion of the diversified Global Emerging Markets (GEM) Funds, USD 714 million out of Asia (ex-Japan) Funds and modest amounts -- around 0.1 per cent of assets under management -- from EMEA and Latin America Equity Funds for the week ended March 12 , the EPFR report said.
Among BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) country funds, Russia was the only one to post an inflow during the reviewed period, while the funds focused on the BRIC region recorded outflows for the third time in four weeks.
However, strong commodities story provided some protection and flows out of Brazil and Latin America regional funds were a minimal 0.01 per cent and 0.02 per cent of assets under management, reflecting the regions close correlation with commodity prices, the report added. PTI
Maruti races past competition in mid-sized sedan segment
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India, better known for its compact cars, has zipped past competition, including Honda and Hyundai, in the mid-sized sedan segment this fiscal on the back of its successful model SX4.
The company, which has been focusing on becoming a full-scale player to outgrow its small-carmaker image as a part of parent Suzuki's global strategy, has managed to grow 53.2 per cent in the A3 (mid-sized sedan) segment during the April-February period.
According to the latest data by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), MSI's sales in the period stood at 41,799 units as compared to 27,283 units in the same period last year.
The growth has enabled the company to speed past Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI), which was at the number one slot in April-February period of the previous fiscal. HSCI sells City, its popular model in the segment.
In the ongoing fiscal, HSCI's cumulative sales stood at 34,029 units as against 35,300 units in the corresponding period last year.
Hyundai Motor India comes third in the segment with 29,146 units sold in the period as against 25,147 units a year ago. The company sells two models -- Accent and Verna -- in the category.
The fight for the fourth place in the segment is a close one, between Ford and Tata Motors that have respectively clocked sales of 26,485 units (down from 34,681 units last year) and 26,281 units (29,949 units last year) during the period.
Ford has Ikon, Fiesta and Fusion models in the segment, while Tata Motors has Indigo and Indigo Marina. PTI
Entertainment, media to record 18% CAGR till 2012: Report
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) The domestic entertainment and media industry is projected to record a cumulative annual growth of 18 per cent over the next four years to reach a size of Rs 1,15,700 crore, according to a report.
The industry recorded a growth of 17 per cent in calendar year 2007 to reach an estimated size of Rs 51,300 crore, up from Rs 43,800 crore in 2006, according to FICCI PricewaterhouseCoopers 2008 Report on Indian entertainment and media industry for 2007.
During the year, the advertising industry contributed 38 per cent to the overall revenues of the industry.
Continuing with the trend of previous years, the emergence of media conglomerates further intensified in 2007. Several media groups expanded beyond their traditional domains to leverage on the synergies of advertising, thus aiming to have a presence across all segments of entertainment and media.
In 2007, foreign investments in the industry reached a record high of approximately Rs 850 crore. This was seen as a result of extremely high number of investment deals announced in 2006 and the years before, the report said.
Meanwhile, FICCI said FRAMES 2008 will be flagged off by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priyaranjan Dasmunsi on March 25 in Mumbai. Over 2,500 Indian and foreign delegates from nearly 20 countries are expected to take part in the three-day event.
Delegates from countries like Australia, Canada, France Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Pakistan would participate in the event. PTI
Sensex ends 6-month low on slew of negative reasons
Mumbai, Mar 15 (PTI) Stocks: The stock markets continued to be in correction mode during the volatile week under review due to a slew of negative global as well as domestic reasons and the benchmark Sensex dropped further by 1.35 per cent to end the week at six-month low.
Lingering fears of recession despite a rescue package of USD 200 billion announced by US Federal Reserve, rising world crude oil prices to record peak and on local front, a steep fall in industrial growth and spiralling inflation upwards above the central bank's tolerance level of 5 per cent in the two straight week weighed on the bourses.
Had there not been a smart recovery in select blue-chip stocks after Finance Minister's positive statement on Friday, the losses in the indices were much more pronounced.
In the week to March 15, the 30-share Sensex dropped by 215.00 points to end the week at 15,760.52 from last weekend's close of 15,975.52. It gyrated in a wide range of 16,683.37 and 15,228.99 during the week. It had plunged by a massive 1,603.20 points or 9.12 per cent in the preceding week.
The 50-issue Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also moved down by 25.80 points or 0.54 per cent to end the week at 4,745.80 from last weekend's close of 4,771.60.
Traders said the markets surged after US Fed's Tuesday's announcement of a latest bailout package to the credit markets to salvage further damage of the world's largest economy.
But global weakness due to concerns over the efficacy of the US Fed's efforts to assist nervous credit markets and the feeble industrial growth in India pulled the Sensex sharply down to 6-1/2 month closing low of 15,357.35 in its sixth biggest fall of 770.73 points on Thursday. PTI
Gold glitters to new peak in Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 15 (PTI) Gold today scaled a new peak of Rs 13,110 per ten grams on the bullion market here on persistent buying by stockists on the back of firm global trend.
Silver prices also shot up to an all-time high of Rs 25,225 per kg on sustained industrial demand coupled with rising trend in international market.
Gold futures extended historic highs in New York yesterday as the metal functioned as a safe haven and alternative currency, while the US dollar continued to weaken and fresh credit-market turmoil emerged.
Most-active April gold rose USD 5.70 to settle at USD 999.50 an ounce after extending its reach to USD 1,009 on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Follow-through buying from the continued credit and subprime linked financial problems at major firms supported gold, a dealer said.
Comex May silver rose 23.5 cents to settle at USD 20.655 an ounce.
In the local market, standard gold (99.5 purity) firmed up by Rs 80 per ten grams to Rs 13,110 from Rs 13,030 previously and pure gold (99.9 purity) moved by the same margin to Rs 13,170 from Rs 13,090.
Silver ready (.999 fineness) shot up to Rs 25,225 from Rs 25,020 previously, showing a rise of Rs 205 per kilo. PTI
Dalai says death toll in Tibet protests may be as high as 100
London, Mar 16 (PTI) The Dalai Lama, the top Tibetan spiritual leader, has claimed he had received reports that the death toll from the violent anti-China protests in Lhasa may be as high as 100, but said he still supported Beijing's staging of the Olympics in August.
Acknowledging that the figure for those killed could not be verified, the Dalai, who is based in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, told BBC that he feared more deaths in Tibet unless Beijing changed its policies towards the Chinese-controlled Himalayan region.
He said he had "grave concerns" over the Friday's protests in Lhasa city, the fiercest in two decades which, according to official Chinese media, claimed at least 10 lives.
But, the Dalai emphasised that he still supported Beijing's staging of the Olympics from August 8 to 24. He said the Olympics were an opportunity for the Chinese people to show their support for the principle of freedom.
The latest protests threatened to cast a shadow on the mega sporting event in Beijing amidst concerns expressed by the West over the human rights situation in China.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday urged China to "exercise restraint" in dealing with the protests. PTI
LTTE ready for talks if Lankan govt halts attacks
T V Sriram
Colombo, Mar 16 (PTI) The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka have expressed readiness to hold talks with the government here if it halted the military operations against them, but warned that the offer should not be seen as "any desperation" on their part to stop the war.
"The LTTE is prepared to commence negotiations with the Sri Lankan government if the government security forces are ordered to halt their military operations. It was the government which started the war," the LTTE political head P Nadesan told a group of Parliamentarians from the pro-rebel Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Wanni recently.
"The offer of the LTTE for a ceasefire and talks should not be construed as any desperation on our (LTTE) part to stop the war. The ball is in the Sri Lankan government's court. It was they who started the armed attack," Nadesan was quoted as saying by Suresh Premachandran, a TNA MP from Jaffna District who was present at the meeting.
Nadesan had held lengthy discussions with the 13 TNA MPs who had gathered for the funeral of their colleague K Sivanesan, who was killed in a roadside bomb attack on March 6 in Wanni.
"The (LTTE) political chief Nadesan said the LTTE can reciprocate if the Sri Lankan government offers a ceasefire but if they want to continue with the attack, the LTTE is fully prepared for it," Premachandran told PTI here. PTI
Wen re-elected Chinese Premier
Beijing, March 16 (PTI) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was today re-elected for another five-year term by the Communist giant's Parliament in a secret ballot.
Wen, 66, has been the Chinese Premier since March 2003. He was earlier nominated at a plenary meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's Parliament, as the sole candidate for the post in a letter signed by President Hu Jintao.
The Chinese Parliament also sealed the appointment of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou as vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which is headed by President Hu.
Both Guo and Xu are members of the all-powerful Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China.
Wang Shengjun was elected President of the Supreme People's Court of China, official Xinhua news agency said. PTI
4 killed, 10 injured in US crane crash
New York, Mar 16 (PTI) A 15-storey high crane being used in the construction of a skyscraper in mid town Manhattan has collapsed, killing at least four people, and injuring 10.
One building was destroyed and three others damaged by the debris as the crane broke into pieces last afternoon.
It came down with a roar smashing cars. All the dead appeared to be workers.
About 19 of the 44 storeys had been erected and an owner of the construction company said that a piece of steel fell which sheared one of the ties holding it to the building which, in turn, led to the crash.
Questions had earlier been raised about the safety of the crane but were dismissed by the city inspectors, media reports said. PTI
Better infrastructure woos filmmakers to the Capital
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) It may have chaotic traffic andkiller blueline buses, the Capital, however, is fast becominga favourite place for movie producers thanks to the Metro,flyovers and its greenery.
Industry experts say that with recent infrastructuraldevelopments and growing demand for fresh story ideas, thecapital city is fast becoming a popular destination.
"Delhi has seen a sea change in the last five years as faras infrastructure development and production facilities areconcerned. Where would you shoot in Mumbai if you want newplaces? Delhi gives you some amazing sceneries. And with thegrowing demand of new ideas, filmmakers are looking at Delhias a new place to shoot," says Anand Kumar, Director of filmslike 'Jugaaad' and 'Delhi Heights'.
But Kumar adds that Delhi still has a long way to gobefore being compared with Mumbai. "The cost of shooting inMalaysia or Singapore is much less than that in Delhi and itsalso not easy to get permission to shoot and takes longertime. It still doesn't have the enough hardware to support thegrowing demand of ever-growing film industry," he says.
Scenes from films such as Sunday, Black and White,Jugaad, Dil Dosti Etc, Fanaa, Rang de Basanti (RDB), Khosla kaghosla, Ahista-Ahista and Delhi Heights, among others wereshot in the capital city.
Film critic Taran Adarsh says, "I think Delhi is one themost beautiful city in the world. And because it has not beenexplored to its potential like Mumbai, suddenly for newfilmmakers this modern city has become a place for givingshape to their new ideas. And nowadays, nobody cares about thecost, if the script demands outdoor shoot."
Old and New Delhi, both, give a visual treat to audienceswith its different tourist places like Red Fort, Qutub Minar,Jama Masjid, India Gate etc." PTI
Big bags, chunky jewellery for this coming Autumn season
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) It is not just clothes that are under the usual scrutiny for their cuts, silhouettes, prints and fabrics used, accessories including jewellery that go towards complementing the entire look of an outfit are increasingly being viewed as trendsetters by fashionistas.
Even though a greater number of stylists have started including accessories to their collections, it is still a long road before they become an integral part of any fashion show with most designers still prefering the spotlight to fall on clothes.
Jewellery and bags are the first choice for designers wanting to jazz up a simple outfit as also these two are in the forefront among accessories when it comes to setting trends for any fashion season.
A total of 11 accessory designers are showcasing their wares at various stalls at the ongoing Wills India Fashion Week at the national capital's Pragati Maidan.
Jaipur-based Amrapali is showcasing its five new collections for the coming Autumn-Winter season that it predicts will see a greater emphasis on the neck and arms.
The jewellery house, which claims to have celebrity patrons like Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry, forecasts a brighter winter palette moving on from a chequered background and accents of colour that dominated Spring Summer.
Kaleidoscope, Femme Fatale, Juxtapose, Deja Vu and Aureole are its new collections. Gold and silver combinations embellishing matte and glossy backgrounds are the highlights of season with the silhoutte on the wearer and body movements.
Amber Paridi Shah, who is working with designers Shalini, Nitin Bal Chauhan and Charu Parishar for the WIFW says "The trend is for long necklaces, chunky earrigs and bangles and character earrings." PTI
Keypads may be passe soon, touch is the future
Wasfia Jalali
New Delhi, March 16 (PTI) Mere touch is enough for them to respond and in some cases even a tilt will do! Out to grab the growing market, especially the youth segment, mobile handset manufacturers are flooding market space with snazzy devices.
With manufacturers of handsets planning to introduce devices that are 'touch', 'motion', 'shake' and even 'rotation' sensitive, keypads and buttons might soon be a thing of the past, say industry experts.
If the recently concluded 'Mobileasia' 2008, where manufacturers displayed their latest and yet to be launched products was any indication, the next couple of years will see touchscreen devices taking centrestage, they say.
The idea behind introducing touch screens on a larger scale is to provide consumers an interactive and intuitive interface that attracts youth who form the major chunk of mobile users, say the industry people.
"A majority of people buying and using mobile phones in the next 15 to 20 years will young people who not only look for style, colour and design but also for latest and user friendly technology", says Anil Arora, Business Group Head, GSM of LG India.
"We are offering touch-screen devices for the segment of buyers looking for interactive handsets that do away with push-button types", he adds.
Significantly, in LG's lineup of premium range of products for the coming year the concept of touchscreens is a priority, Arora says. PTI
Salman Khurshid: from politician to playwright
Rituraj Borthakur
Shillong, Mar 16 (PTI) As a politician he may have been witness to many a drama, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, however, decided to don a new cap - of a playwright - delve into history to pen a new play.
The former Union leader who decided a try to his long cherished desire while on seven years ago, will see his first play 'Sons of Babur-In Search of India' being staged in the national capital sometime in April.
"It took me seven long years to complete the play. Now it has been translated to Urdu. Preparations are afoot to stage the plays in Delhi in April," the former Union Minister who was in Shillong a few days back, told PTI.
Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah is likely to play the lead role in the play. "I have discussed the play with Naseeruddin and he is already working on it and may play the lead," he said.
Asked about his interest in writing the play, Khursheed said, "I always wanted to do something creative. Writing a book was my first option. But that involves a lot of homework and one needs to keep on penning down what comes to one's mind." "It was in 2001, and some of my friends went for a holiday to Goa. While I was walking down the beaches of Goa, the idea of writing a play suddenly struck. That, I thought, would not take much pen work. I can keep on making the sequences in mind during leisure and when I got time, I can put it on papers," Khursheed, a minister of state for external affairs in the government of P V Narsimha Rao, said.PTI
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