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Nuclear energy must for energy security: PM
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said his government was committed to developing nuclear energy as part of a multi-pronged strategy for energy security as the country could not depend on just one or two sources to meet the growing demand for power.
"Our government is committed to further development of energy both as an environment friendly source of power and as a means of widening the energy basket available to us," he said, laying the foundation stone for the Rs 5,000 crore gas based power project at Bawana here.
The plant is to be commissioned ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
India is trying to push through a civilian deal with the US that would give it access to American nuclear fuel and equipment, but the pact is being fiercely opposed by the UPA's Left allies on the ground that it would compromise India's sovereignty.
Currently, nuclear power accounts for just three per cent of India's installed power generation capacity, while over 60 per cent of it is being met by coal.
The Prime Minister said that while some sources of energy might be cheap today, the country needs to think for future generations. "Our energy needs are bound to grow. We will be failing in the duty to our nation and to posterity, if we do not look ahead and take steps for not just today and tomorrow but for future generations," he said.
Singh said the strategy for energy security was multi-pronged. "We don't have the luxury of depending upon only one or two sources," he said. PTI
Shivani case: IPS officer R K Sharma, 3 others get life term
Souvik Sanyal & Sanjeev Kumar
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Suspended Inspector General of Police R K Sharma was today sentenced to life imprisonment in the sensational Shivani Bhatnagar case by a Delhi court which held that the murder of the journalist was "abominable" but not one that could shock the conscience of society.
While sparing him the gallows, the court said "except for the crime in question Sharma was an asset to the nation" with an unblemished service record.
Shivani, a senior journalist with Indian Express, was brutally stabbed to death in her east Delhi apartment on January 23 1999, while she was alone with her two-month-old son.
Sharma conspired with three others to eliminate Shivani as he wanted to walk out of his "intimate" relationship with her, something that prompted her to threaten him.
"I am not in consonance with the prosecution labelling R K Sharma as a danger to the society," Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri said, while awarding life terms to other three convicts -- hired killer Pradeep Sharma and property dealers Sri Bhagwan and Satya Prakash.
Fiftyfour-year-old R K Sharma, a 1976-batch Haryana cadre IPS officer, wearing a pink T-shirt and blue jeans, looked pensive as he entered the packed Karkardooma court but soon there were signs of relief as the judge declined the prosecution plea to award him death sentence and imposed life term.
"No doubt, the murder in itself is an abominable and heinous crime, offender of which can never be pardoned but the offence under consideration was not of that ilk which could shock the conscience of the society," the court noted in its 13-page order on quantum of sentence. PTI
Sikkim police prevents Tibetan protesters from entry
Gangtok, Mar 24 (PTI) Sikkim police today prevented over 400 Tibetan protesters, including monks, from entering the state to stage a march upto Nathu La on Sino-Indian border to express solidarity with their brethrens agitating for independence of Tibet.
"We cannot allow the Tibetan protesters from entering the territory of the Himalayan state as they do not have innerline permit for their visit," East district Superintendent of Police M S Tuli said.
Heavy police deployment was made at Rangpo checkpost, the entry point from West Bengal, to prevent the protesters from entering Sikkim, he told PTI.
Over 400 protesters, including a large number of monks, congregated at Rangpo check post on the territorial jurisdiction of West Bengal and demanded permission from Sikkim police to enter the state to take out a 'peace march' upto Nathu La.
Raising anti-China slogans, the Tibetans had earlier gathered at 17th Mile area in West Bengal from where they marched upto Rangpo check post. PTI
Angry mob sets fire to Agra police station
Agra, Mar 24 (PTI) An angry mob went on a rampage in Kheragarh town of this district, burning down a police station and setting ablaze some vehicles after Chairman of Nagar Panchayat clashed with police over its alleged failure to take action against some youth, police sources said today.
The Chairman of Nagar Panchayat Anil Garg had reportedly handed over four drunken youth involved in some violence in the town to the police.
However, local police had allegedly let off the youth which angered Garg and his supporters who barged into the police station and entered into a verbal duel with officers there last night, the sources said.
Soon clashes broke out with the two sides exchanging blows. The situation soon got out of control with Garg's supporters setting ablaze the police station and some vehicles parked outside the police station.
Police fired in the air to disperse the stone-pelting mob.
District Magistrate Mukesh Meshwar Seth said 36 people, including Garg, have been arrested and the situation is under control.
Circle officer Kheragarh has been shifted and security beefed up in the area, he said. PTI
Dalmiya faces charge of misappropriating Rs 2.90 crore
Mumbai/Kolkata, Mar 24 (PTI) Three years after he was voted out of the BCCI, former Cricket Board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya faced charges of misappropriation of Rs 2.90 crore over which the Mumbai Police will be filing a chargesheet on Wednesday.
Acting on a case filed by the BCCI in March 2006 after Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar took over as head of the game's governing body, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has found that Dalmiya diverted funds meant for legal fees towards other expenses, including paying for personal phone bills.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said today that Indian Income Tax authorities had slapped 64 cases on PILCOM's account operated from London. PILCOM was the organising committee of the 1996 Cricket World Cup hosted jointly by Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.
The crime branch will be filing a chargesheet against Dalmiya, Gautam Dutta and K M Choudhary in the matter on Wednesday in a local court, he said.
Dalmiya termed the move to file a chargesheet against him by the Mumbai Police as an off-shoot of "the old game plan of my adversaries".
"Whenever something happens in cricket politics, they resort to such action to settle scores with me," the seasoned cricket administrator told PTI in Kolkata, apparently refering to his presence at a Cricket Association of Bengal Special General Meeting last month. PTI
Bangalore to host first ever National Youth Games
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) The inaugural National Youth Games will be held in Bangalore from May 10-18, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said here today.
More than 6000 athletes are expected to take part in 24 disciplines in the Games, which will serve as a qualifying event for the Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Pune in October.
IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh said the event could be rescheduled if it coincides with the Karnataka state assembly elections.
"As of now, the schedule is that the National Youth Games will be held in May. If state assembly elections are held at that time, we have to reschedule it," he said.
The disciplines for the under-18 event are archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing (boys), cycling, equestrian, football, fencing, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, tennis, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling (boys).
All athletes born on or after January 1, 1990 are eligible to take part in the event. PTI
Seven Indians feature in Asian Order of Merit top-15
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Indian golfers continue to dominate the Asian Tour Order of Merit with as many as seven of them making it to the top-15 earners' list.
Jeev Milkha Singh, who narrowly missed out the Ballentines Championship crown, leads the pack of Indians with USD 516,429, some USD 40,000 behind Kiwi leader Mark Brown (556,233).
Indian Master's winner SSP Chowrasia (USD 426,260), Malaysian Open champion Arjun Atwal (USD 419,387) and Jyoti Randhawa (USD 256,643) followed Jeev to ensure that there are four Indians among top five earners in Asia.
Digvijay Singh (USD 124,616), Shiv Kapur (USD 110,254) and Gaurav Ghei (USD 97,474) are at 10th, 12th and 15th respectively in the list issued today.
Top-15 Earners: 1. Mark Brown (NZ) USD 556,233 2. Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) USD 516,429 3. S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) USD 426,260 4. Arjun Atwal (IND) USD 419,387 5. Jyoti Randhawa (IND) USD 256,643 6. Kane Webber (AUS) USD 219,954 7. Scott Strange (AUS) USD 216,185 8. Taichiro Kiyota (JPN) USD 202,418 9. Prayad Marksaeng (THA) USD 126,512 10. Digvijay Singh (IND) USD 124,616.25 11. Lin Wen-tang (TPE) USD 113,282 12. Shiv Kapur (IND) USD 110,254 13. Scott Barr (AUS) USD 108,841 14. Prom Meesawat (THA) USD 97,686 15. Gaurav Ghei (IND) USD 97,474. PTI
Sledging is here to stay: Atapattu, Harris
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the BCCI can try their best but sledging is here to stay, reckon former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu and retired Kiwi all-rounder Chris Harris.
Atapattu argues sledging is as old as the game itself and though the line had been overstepped on quite a few occasions in the recent India-Australia series, it was not the first time that cricket has seen such war of words.
"Even when we played India or Pakistan, this kind of chit-chat happened. We would target an individual and say something to him to see if that affects him. But once we came out of the ground, everything stayed behind. I'm not encouraging it, but the thing is you can't wipe it out," Atapattu told reporters here today.
Both ICC and the BCCI are determined to stamp out sledging with the governing body recently shooting a letter to captains of all international teams and the Test playing nations, asking them to urge their players to avoid sledging.
Atapattu did not find wisdom behind such a move and said an international player should be mentally strong enough to cope with it.
"I think Test cricket is the true test of character. It tests your mental ability. So if you are unnerved by a comment or two, you probably should not be there," said the Delhi Giants skipper who was here to unveil the Man of the Series award for the Edelweiss 20s Challenge of the Indian Cricket League.
"I don't support racism remarks but if making a casual remark against a player fetches me his wicket, I'll go for it," Atapattu said, all candour. PTI
India, New Zealand to sign MoU on agri sector soon
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) India and New Zealand are likely join hands soon for exchange technology transfer and research in the agriculture sector.
"We are in the process of finalising a few things at the official level in this regard," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters here after meeting his New Zealand counterpart Jim Anderton.
Both the countries are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding in the farm sector shortly, which would also encourage private sector investment.
New Zealand has offered its expertise in horticulture, dairy and meat sectors to India, Pawar said. He said the MoU aimed at strengthening mutual cooperation and bilateral trade between both countries.
Among others, the proposed MoU between the Agriculture Ministries of the two countries would cover agriculture and allied activities, including food processing, agricultural research and phytosanitary issues relating to trade in plants and animal products.
India and New Zealand already have an MoU on plant quarantine issues, another tripartite MoU is being discussed among Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Land Care Research and Massey University, New Zealand. PTI
Markets gain, Sensex above 15k level
Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today regained the 15K level by adding nearly 294 points on heavy buying into blue-chip stocks, particularly in the banking sector.
The 30-share Sensex, in its straight third winning streak, added 294.57 points at 15,289.40 today after a long week-end.
The key index touched the day's high of 15,351.31 and a low of 15,056.09 points.
The National Stock Exchange index Nifty shot up by 35.90 points at 4,609.85, after touching a high of 4,649.45 and a low of 4,539.80 points.
The major support to the market came in from banking index which gained the most by 249.09 points at 7,744.35, followed by capital goods index by 130.19 points at 13,225.91.
A steep fall in metal and realty stocks dented the market and checked a rising trend to some extent. PTI
Indian, Israeli cos to give pipe free gas supply solutions
Jerusalem, Mar 24 (PTI) India's fuel storage company Confidence Petroleum Ltd and Israel's Energtek Inc have signed an agreement to commercially develop pipe-free natural gas supply solutions for large automotive fleets and industrial consumers across Southeast Asia.
As per the agreement, Confidence Petroleum will invest two million USDs to acquire co-ownership of Energteks subsidiary, Primecyl LLC, which is currently developing pressure cylinder manufacturing plants in Europe, a media report here said.
The joint venture will incorporate production facilities in Europe to serve the European and Asian pressure cylinder markets, business daily 'Globes' reported.
Energtek's main R&D arm, Angstore, headed by Prof Yuri Ginzburg has developed the Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) technology, which enables hi-tech and cost-effective storage of natural gas by maximising the quantities of gas stored in a tank, it said.
Storage is one the key problems involved when handling a highly flammable substance such as gas.
"This agreement allows Energtek and Confidence Petroleum to combine technology, manufacturing and marketing resources needed to provide a natural gas supply solution that is financially beneficial to energy consumers across Asia," Energtek CEO Lev Zaidenberg was quoted as saying.
Confidence Petroleum Chief Managing Director Nitin Khara said, over 50 per cent growth is being witnessed in the Asian natural gas vehicle market since 2000, with much of that growth taking place in India.
"The introduction of ANG technology will enable even more drivers and industrial consumers to benefit from affordable, clean fuel," Khara was quoted by the daily as saying. PTI
DoT warns Blackberry service providers on security system
New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Having come under scanner for security lapses in the use of Blackberry services, the government has issued a stern warning to telecom companies to put the required security system in place within 15 days or stop the services.
The directive has been issued to the respective service providers to work out with officials of Blackberry licensor Research in Motion (RIM) of Canada to provide full-proof security system in the country, senior officials in the Department of Telecom (DoT) said.
If the services were stopped, over four lakh users of Blackberry would not be able to use this premium service which enables users to access e-mail in the form of SMS.
The DoT Secretary had recently said that the government was keen to resolve the matter at the earliest.
When contacted RIM, licensor of Blackberry services, spokesperson told PTI that RIM operates in more than 130 countries around the world and respects the regulatory requirements of governments. RIM does not comment on confidential regulatory matters or speculation on such matters in any given country.
Telecom Minister A Raja had also said that security of nation was of paramount concern and this would not be sacrificed at any cost.
C-DoT, a technical wing of DoT, has the monitoring capabilities provided the licensor puts the server in India enabling interception of contents of e-mails, if required, on the Blackberry handsets. PTI
AEC forays into detailed engineering space in India
Bangalore, Mar 24 (PTI) Project management company, AEC Project Services (I) Pvt Ltd has announced its foray into detailed engineering space in the domestic market as part of its value added bouquet of offerings to Indian customers.
AEC is keen in leveraging its current expertise and experience gained in the detailed engineering space in the Middle East and USA to offer this service to the domestic market here, AEC CEO T S Suneeth Kumar told PTI.
"We are now keen in offering this as a value add to customers here. Our target customers are large infrastructure contractors, high rise tower builders and small retail customers," Kumar said.
Traditionally rebar (bar used for reinforcement in concrete pourings) detailing was handed over to reinforcement subcontractors who did it manually, leading to little control over accuracy in terms of dimension and the element of human error creeping in. "This led to wastage", he said.
Though software application in rebar detailing was popular abroad, the company now proposes to bring this IT enabled service to the the Indian market. AEC uses a wide array of software programmes and bar optimisation programmes (developed in house), Kumar said.
This enables bar optimisation and reduction in one to 1.5 per cent in terms of cutting wastage and saving on steel as well as ensuring reconciliation statement at any point in time, Kumar added.
Giving a market estimate of the detailed engineering space in the retail sector, Kumar said that consumption of steel per month in the small retail segment in five metros was around 25,000 metric tonnes.
AEC offers project management, cost consultancy and construction management. PTI
Voting closes in Bhutan polls, counting starts
Thimphu, Mar 24 (PTI) Voting in Bhutan's historic general election closed today following a peaceful and enthusiastic response from the public which will end a century of monarchy.
Voting has stopped and counting has started, Election Commission sources said. PTI
All options should be open against Iran, says Israel
Jerusalem, Mar 24 (PTI) Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has told visiting US vice president Dick Cheney that "all options should remain on the table" in the country's bid to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Barak met Cheney last evening in Tel Aviv and expressed Israeli concerns over Iran's nuclear programme and said that it threatens the stability of the entire region.
"Israel believes that financial sanctions against Tehran could still prove effective, but all options should remain on the table," Barak told Cheney, according to a defence ministry statement.
Earlier, in a reference to the threats emanating from Iranian nuclear programme, Cheney said that the US administration was "actively involved in dealing with the threats that we see emerging in the region, not only threats to Israel, but threats to the United States as well." Though the US leader's visit to the region was aimed at pushing forward the Israel-Palestinian dialogue, but most of the talks in Israel were centered around how to deal with the Iranian threat.
Israeli President Shimon Peres told Cheney that anti-Israel declarations made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Tehran's support for Lebanese and Palestinian militant groups cannot be ignored.
"We have this problem of the Iranians who want to build two satellites, the Hizbullah [in Lebanon] and the Hamas in Gaza. ... Nobody can control us and say that declarations by Ahmadinejad are less serious," Peres said. PTI
Pak minister presses new govt to release Sarabjit
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Mar 24 (PTI) Pakistan's incoming government should convert the death sentence of Indian national Sarabjit Singh into life imprisonment on "humanitarian grounds" and ensure his early release, caretaker Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney said today.
President Pervez Musharraf had on March 19 deferred the hanging of Sarabjit, scheduled for April 1, by 30 days after receiving an appeal for clemency from the Indian government and the condemned man's family.
Burney, a leading human rights activist, requested the incoming government and prime minister-designate Yousuf Raza Gillani to convert Sarabjit's death sentence into life imprisonment as he had "spent more than a life sentence on death row in Pakistani jails", which was "worse than hell".
He also called for the early release on humanitarian grounds of Sarabjit, who has been held in Pakistani jails for 18 years. Burney said he would not allow the government to hang a person for "reportedly mistaken identity".
Sarabjit was sentenced to death in 1991 for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. His family denies he is a spy as claimed by Pakistan and insists he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory.
The mercy petition of Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is Manjit Singh, was rejected by Musharraf on March 3. Sarabjit's mercy petition was sent to the President along with that of Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh, who was pardoned and freed after spending 35 years on death row in Pakistani jails.
Pakistan's Supreme Court too rejected Sarabjit's plea for clemency in March 2006. PTI
Intra-party differences, assembly becomes the floor
Vijay Dabur
Chandigarh, Mar 24 (PTI) Intra-party differences in both the ruling and the opposition aired on the floor of the house have marked the proceedings of the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Assembly.
Sparks flew after the outburst of former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh against his bete noire Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
For the ruling party, the speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon pulled up Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura after the latter complained that the chair was allowing more supplemantaries on his department. Captain Amarinder Singh also took a potshot at the leader of the opposition Bhattal for allegedly "colluding" with the ruling combine in the state.
Brahmapura's complaint prompted the Speaker to direct the minister to tender an apology or he would be served a notice.
"I haven't said anything wrong, but if you feel so I apologise," the minister said.
The verbal spat between the two senior leaders of Akalis brought in the open the simmering differences between the ruling SAD.
The agreement between the Congress members and the SAD and its ally BJP on postponement of Panchayat polls in the state made Amarinder Singh hit out at Bhattal saying that she was "toeing the lines" of Akalis.
"Bhattal appears to be little concerned about party workers who are facing lot of inconveniences during the Badal regime. She is keeping herself busy in playing matches with rivals and attending their dinners," the former chief minister said targetting the Punjab Congress chief. PTI
More middle class in India owning at least one pet animal
Diganta Biswas
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) With a fast-paced lifestyle mounting stress on every section of the urban people, demands for companion creatures like pooches, kitties, fishes and birdies are also running high in the country, say experts.
"Having a companion creature like dog or anything else often plays significant role in pacifying people's mind and thus it helps them to deal with the pressure of everyday life," eminent psychiatrist Dr Sanjay Chug told PTI.
"With the adoption of a speedy urban lifestyle, the family pattern is changing in India as the idea of joint family being replaced by nuclear ones. Loneliness of nuclear family increasingly forcing people to opt for companion creatures like dogs or birds," G C Mehta of Ashapura Industries, dealing in pet-food industry, says.
He adds that the unique trend, is in turn, positively contributing to the considerable growth of Indian pet industry itself.
Indian pet-food market has been showing annual growth rate of 10-15 per cent in last few years, according to Euromonitor International. This growth rate should be largely attributed to the change in lifestyle, which changes mass mentality as well, experts say.
"Some years back owning a pet happened to be status symbol among the rich and aristocratic people. But today that is not the situation, mentality of people is changing," Rohit Bhatia of Vetnex Pet Business told PTI.
"In urban areas all over the country, more and more middle and lower-middle class people today opting for pet in their houses," Bhatia added. PTI
Suniel Shetty prefers comedy over action movies
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) He might have added a new dimension to action cinema with his spine-chilling fight sequences in films like 'Mohra', 'Shastra' and 'Balwan', but Bollywood's original action hero Suniel Shetty, feels it was comedy that interested him the most.
"I love comedy more than action as it is very difficult to enact humorous scenes and to make someone laugh with your comic timing," Shetty told PTI.
"I am doing more and more comedy movies as it gives me internal satisfaction. Action is also close to my heart as I have grown up doing action cinema, but comedy is what interests me most," he says.
Shetty who started his Bollywood innings as an action hero later graduated to comic roles in films like 'Hera Pheri', 'Awara Paagal Deewana', 'Apna Sapna Money Money' and soon to be released 'One Two Three'.
The 'Gopi-Kishan' of Bollywood, who has lately shifted his gears from acting to production with his company "Popcorn Pictures" wants to concentrate more on producing films.
"I am thinking only about my production company with 17 films in making. I am happy working behind the scenes and a good producer within me is in making." "From June to September this year, four films of my production company will hit the deck," Suniel says.
Shetty's production company has earlier produced films like Khel (2003), Rakht (2006) and Bhagam Bhag (2007).
He has already signed a seven film co-production deal with Balaji and a deal with Studio 18 is underway. PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week Mar 15 - Mar 21, 2008
Saturday
Panaji: The death of British teenaged girl Scarlett Keeling sparks trading of charges between her mother Fiona Mackeown and Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik with Fiona accusing him of having nexus with drug mafia and Naik responding by demanding a probe into Fiona's source of income and frequent trips to Karnataka.
New Delhi: Around 50 Tibetans are detained in the national capital this morning as they tried to storm the Chinese Embassy building here to protest the violent crackdown on monks in Tibet's capital Lhasa.
Sunday Mcleodganj (HP): The Dalai Lama accuses China of unleashing a 'cultural genocide' in Tibet and demands an impartial international probe into the situation in violence-hit Lhasa.
Lucknow: Two years after it was constituted, the All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board comes out with a new "Shariat nikahnama" that makes registration of marriages compulsory, accords several rights to the wife and is applicable to both Shias and Sunnis.
Monday New Delhi: India seeks consular access to Sarabjit Singh facing execution on April one as efforts to seek reprieve for him intensified with his sister making a desperate plea to save her "innocent" brother.
New Delhi: Government and the Left parties decide to hold discussions next month on the draft India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA after the allies were briefed on the outcome of the negotiations in Vienna.
New Delhi: The purchase of a 36-year-old US warship rocks the Parliament with the Left parties demanding a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on whether there was a restraining clause in the procurement of the vessel, barring its use in case of a conflict. Tuesday Dharamshala (HP): Facing increasing criticism for his 'Middle way' policy, the Dalai Lama threatens to quit as the head of the Tibetan exile movement if the unrest in Tibet got out of control and rejected Chinese charges that he was inciting violence there.
New Delhi: Suspended Inspector General of Police Ravi Kant Sharma is convicted for murder of Delhi journalist Shivani Bhatnagar by a city court which held him as the "main conspirator" in the sensational nine-year-old case.
New Delhi: Facing execution on April one in Lahore on terror charges, Sarabjit Singh is clinging to hope as India appealed for his clemency on humanitarian grounds but there was no encouraging response from Pakistan.
Wednesday Shillong: Donkupar Roy, heading the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance, is sworn in as chief minister of the state along with a six-member team, ending the 10-day stint of D D Lapang who resigned due to lack of numbers.
New Delhi: Sarabjit Singh, on death row in Pakistan, gets a one-month breather with his hanging being put off till April 30 by President Pervez Musharraf following India's appeal for clemency on humanitarian grounds.
Kolkata: Controversial Bangladesh author Taslima Nasreen leaves India to an unknown destination and reaches London, as she voiced her bitterness against the Indian government accusing it of being no better than "religious fundamentalists."
Thursday Pokhran(Rajasthan): India stages one of the biggest military wargames in Rajasthan's Thar desert but the showcase event is marred by tragedy when a mortar explodes killing three soldiers and seriously injuring another two.
Jaipur: A controversial bill banning religious conversion, which was returned by the then Governor Pratibha Patil in 2006, is passed by the Rajasthan assembly amid stormy protests and walkout by opposition Congress.
Chandigarh: Pakistani national Khalid Mehmood was suffering from chronic liver disease and died due to "medical problems", a preliminary probe concludes after circumstances of his death generated a controversy in the neighbouring country.
Friday New Delhi: Tibetan protesters storm the Chinese Embassy here, taking the security personnel by surprise and scaling the walls of the high-security complex.
Dharamsala: Calling Chinese "oppression" in Tibet as a "challenge to the world's conscience", US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants the international community to denounce the recent crackdown saying "we can't talk of human rights if we don't speak against China." PTI
Its not only Bips,Bollywood is bowled over by Bangla music too
Amit Das
New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI) Its not only Bengali beauties but the Bengali rock and fusion music too is catching the fancy of Bollywood music directors but some bands feel their compositions are being 'lifted', leaving them in limbo.
Rabindranath Tagore's compositions have always been popular in the tinsel town but now with the growing popularity of Bengali rock and fusion bands, this genre of music from the region also seems to finding favour from bollywood music directors.
While composers like Shantanu moitra are still successfully using Rabindra Sangeet in films like "Parineeta" and "Lage Raho Munnabhai, the new age composers like Pritam Chakrabarty are ripping in Bengali rock to cater to the changing taste buds of bollywood music aficionados.
"Bangla band music has now become a mainstream entertainment form. We strike a chord with the youth and progressive thinkers. Industry has accepted bands as a genre in itself. It gained recognition in Kolkata in the 90's and now even bollywood has also woken up," says Vikram Banerjee, guitarist of 'Krosswindz', the band which originally released the song, "prithibi ta...", which was later adapted as 'Na jane koi...' in Anurag Basu's 'Gangster'.
Pritam, who has so far composed two Hindi songs based on Bengali rock music, is also upbeat about the trend.
"People are enjoying the music and now even many band singers are also singing in Bollywood. For example, Rupam, the lead vocalist of Fossils, a rock band in Kolkata has sung a song for my upcoming film, Jannat," he says.
However, there are some bands who feel let down. PTI
Another sonrise in Bollywood
Shimla, Mar 24 (PTI) Another superstar son is all set to make his debut in the film industry following the footsteps of other star sons like Abishek Bachchan, Hritik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor.
Former cine star and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha is all set to make his debut with film "Sadiyaan", which is based on the relationship between India and Pakistan.
"Like others, I also wish that my son becomes a far more better and successful actor than me," Shatrughan Sinha said yesterday.
Sinha had also interacted with the film's unit which is shooting near Chandigarh.
Sinha said the film which has been shot at different locations in Punjab and Jammu, is expected to release by September next.
Actress Hema Malini and Rekha will be seen together in this film almost after 20 years.
Actor Rishi Kapoor is playing the role of Luv's father in the film while the role of heroin is being played by a Kashmiri girl Fareen.
The film is being produced and directed by Raj Kanwar who has given hit films including Shahrukh Khan starrer Deewana.
Popular Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh is also playing an important role in the film. PTI
Not much knowledge about classical music among young:Manna Dey
Bangalore, Mar 21 (PTI): The doyen of Hindi film music, Manna Dey has lamented the lack of knowledge about Hindustani classical music among young singers and said that some obsecne songs made a mockery of music.
"Music is not totally out. While some have awareness and knowledge in general, it is lacking among the young singers of today", he told PTI.
"There is no knowledge about swar (notes), laya (tempo) and tal (rhythm) among young singers. For this it is necessary that they are guided and trained by good masters",he told PTI.
Manna Dey said good film music is an amalgamation of lyrics and melody. "Obscene songs like Choli ke peeche kya hai make a mockery of music itself", he said.
Reflecting on the Hindi film music scenario, he said the fifties and sixties was the golden era of music, while the early seventies had melodious music. The 1998-2008 period saw a lull, but some composers are now making good songs, he said.
"Among young singers, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan are good", he said.
The 89-year old singer said he still practices for two hours daily. "I also believe in good health and being physically fit". PTI
Soha to be show-caused for getting gun license while underage
Gurgaon, Mar 18 (PTI) Actress Soha Ali Khan, daughter of former ctricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, faces trouble for her father allegedly using a gun issued in her name to kill a black buck near here with the Haryana authorities deciding to issue her a show-cause on the charge of violating the Arms Act.
The actress was issued the gun license in November 1996, when she was only eighteen-years-and-one-month-old, whereas the minimum age limit for getting a gun license is 21 years, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Gupta said.
The show cause will ask her how she obtained a gun license when she was still underage for it, Gupta said.
Gupta said the file containing documents related to the issuance of the license to her were also missing from government records and added that an FIR would be lodged against unnamed persons in this regard.
He said Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi took the permission for carrying .22 bore rifle no. 91501 "as retainer" on January 7, 2000 for which license was issued to Soha.
Mansur Ali Khan had allegedly used the same weapon in June 2005 for hunting down and killing a black buck in Jhajjar district, said the official. PTI
Three Bollywood films among high grossers at the box-office
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Mar 17 (PTI) Three Bollywood films grossed three million pounds in box-office collections last year, according to industry figures.
Indian films Om Shanti Om, Namastey London and Partner are among the foreign productions that are increasingly collecting large sums in Britain, according to the Film Distributors Association.
For several years now, Bollywood films have figured in the Top Ten blockbusters in Britain as Indian producers increasingly use British Asian diaspora themes, locations and production facilities.
The UK is seen as the world's number one market for Bollywood productions outside India. DVD distributors also cite a growing interest in foreign language films from UK audiences.
The Film Distributors' Association said the growing popularity of foreign films reflects an "ongoing process of sophistication" and is helping to bolster already rising UK cinema revenues.
In 2007, there were 525 new film releases in the UK from at least 49 countries, according to the association.
There have also been UK audience gains for less-established exporters, including Romanian cinema with the recently released backstreet abortions drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. PTI
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