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Six central ministers resign ahead of expansion
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Six Congress ministers at the Centre resigned today ahead of an expansion of the Union Council of Ministers which is likely to see induction of new faces like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada of Congress and Raghunath Jha of RJD.
Those who quit the government are Ministers of State Suresh Pachouri (Personnel), Dasari Narayan Rao (Coal), M V Rajasekharan (Planning), T Subbarami Reddy (Mines), Akhilesh Das (Steel) and Manikrao Gavit (Home), it was officially announced.
The President has accepted their resignations with immediate effect.
Pachouri, who is tipped to take over as chief of Congress in Madhya Pradesh ahead of assembly polls there later this year, and Rajasekharan resigned on the expiry of their terms in Rajya Sabha.
A reshuffle of portfolios is expected in which Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi could be given additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs, now held by Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, and Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan is understood to be getting additional responsibility of Personnel, Public Grievances, Pension and Parliamentary Affairs departments.
Dasmunsi, who was recently appointed West Bengal Congress chief, is holding the portfolio of Information and Broadcasting.
Among the names of Congress leaders doing the rounds for induction into the cabinet is that of Scindia, scion of the Gwalior royal family and son of late Madhavrao Scindia.
Both Scindia and Prasada, who is son of late Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, are prominent faces of Congress' youth brigade. PTI
Cabinet expansion; Scindia, Jitin Prasada could get berths
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) The Union Council of Ministers will be expanded today, with new faces such as Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada of Congress and Raghunath Jha of RJD likely to be inducted into the government.
A reshuffle of portfolios is also expected with Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi likely to be given the additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan understood to be getting additional responsibility of Personnel, Public Grievances, Pension and Parliamentary Affairs departments.
Ahead of the exercise, Suresh Pachouri resigned as MoS Personnel, Public Grievances, Pension and Parliamentary Affairs as his Rajya Sabha term ended on April two. Parliamentary Affairs is being currently held by Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, who was recently appointed West Bengal Congress chief. He is also holding the portfolio of Information and Broadcasting.
G K Vasan, who is MoS Statistics, Planning and Programme Implementation, may be promoted to Cabinet rank, sources said.
The name of DMK chief K Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi was high on the agenda, but the southern ally is understood to have declined to accept the offer for the moment in view of the current political situation in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Hogenakkal project, they added.
Among the names of Congress leaders doing the rounds for induction into the Cabinet is that of Scindia, scion of the Gwalior royal family and son of late Madhavrao Scindia.
Both Scindia and Prasada, who is son of late Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, represent the youth brigade of the Congress. PTI
Left, UNPA to launch week-long protest on price rise on Apr 16
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Cautioning the Congress-led coalition that it might have to pay a "heavy political price" for spiralling prices, outside supporters Left parties and UNPA today announced a week-long joint nation-wide protest on April 16 against the government's "failure" to tame inflation.
At a joint press conference, leaders of these parties charged the government with "total betrayal of aam admi" (common man) and threatened "an element of militancy also" in the struggle.
They demanded strengthening of PDS, ban on futures trading in agricultural commodities, cut in customs and excise duties on oil and stringent action against hoarders of essential commodities.
"We feel the measures taken by the government so far are inadequate. The diagnosis of inflation is wrong," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said and asked the government to take immediate steps to "arrest this runaway rise in prices of essential commodities that are imposing untold misery on the common people".
CPI leader D Raja said if the UPA government did not take prompt and effective steps qucikly, it might have to pay a "heavy political price".
He suggested said the struggle had to be sustained with "an element of militancy also", if needed.
Amar Singh said Samajwadi Party had in the past raised its voice jointly with the Left on various issues like Indo-US nuclear deal and this time "we are solidly behind the Left on the issue of price rise".
K Yerran Naidu (TDP) said the government was not functioning for the common man, on whose strength it came to power, and accused it of "total betray of aam admi". PTI
Munaf, Ishant to join Indian team for practice at Motera
Ahmedabad, Apr 6 (PTI) Munaf Patel and Ishant Sharma would join the Indian team for a practice session tomorrow at the Sardar Patel Gujarat stadium here.
Patel was today included in the 16-member squad for the third and final Test against South Africa starting in Kanpur on April 11.
He replaced R P Singh, a non-performer during the second Test, which India lost by an innings and 90 runs.
"Patel and Sharma are expected to join the team for a practice session here tomorrow," said a BCCI official.
However, it is still uncertain whether Ramesh Powar, who was also included in the squad, would join the team here before they proceed for Kanpur.
Sharma will undergo a fitness test along with skipper Anil Kumble on the eve of the crucial Test. The final 14 will be announced only after the fitness tests, according to BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah. PTI
Munaf replaces RP Singh; Kumble doubtful for third Test
Ahmedabad, Apr 6 (PTI) Pacer Munaf Patel was today included in the Indian team for the third and final cricket Test against South Africa to be played in Kanpur from April 11.
Patel replaced R P Singh in the squad announced here today.
Anil Kumble and Ishant Sharma, who are nursing injuries, will undergo a fitness test on April 10 before the final 14 is decided for the match.
Off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been drafted in as cover for Kumble.
Squad: Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Piyush Chawla, Mohammad Kaif, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Ramesh Powar. PTI
Bhupathi-Knowles pair finishes runner-up in Miami Masters
Miami, Apr 6 (PTI) Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles' quest for a third ATP doubles title this season ended in disappointment after a straight-set mauling at the hands of top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan in the finals of the USD 3,77,0000 Sony Ericsson Open here.
The fourth seeded Indo-Bahamas pair went down 2-6 2-6 to the defending champions in a lopsided 53-minute encounter yesterday.
The win gave the Americans their first ATP title of the season.
The Bryans were appearing in their ATP-best fifth final of the year after runner-up finishes in Sydney, San Jose, Las Vegas and Delray Beach. The title win here was their 45th career title together (11th ATP Masters Series).
"Today was one of the best matches we played in a long time. I think the last time we played like that was against Mark Knowles in Basel in the fall, and it was 6-1, 6-1. Today was the same way," said Mike Bryan.
The Bryans, who never faced a break point, broke Knowles twice in the opening set -- in the fourth and eighth games. In the second set, Bhupathi was broken twice, also in the fourth and eighth games.
Bhupathi and Knowles, who are number two in the ATP Doubles Race, came into their third ATP final of the season having won 14 of their last 15 matches.
They won back-to-back titles in Memphis and Dubai without dropping a set before their 10-match winning streak ended in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells to eventual champions Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
Knowles was attempting to become the 20th player in the Open Era to win 50 career doubles titles while Bhupathi was aiming for his 44th career title.
Jeev slips to tied 52nd at Houston Open
Houston, Apr 6 (PTI) A couple of late birdies helped Jeev Milkha Singh avoid an over par finish and turn in a 72 but the effort could not save him from sliding down to the tied 52nd spot after the penultimate round of the USD 5.6 million Houston Open here.
Jeev's third-round score of 72 took his total to one-under 215.
The 10th tee starter parred his first two holes before picking up a shot on the 12th, which was to be his only birdie in the back nine.
Making the turn one-under, Jeev stumbled to a bogey on the second hole and added to his woes with a double bogey on the sixth.
However, the Chandigarh-pro went on damage control mode after that, picking up birdies on the seventh and eighth to round off the day on a positive note.
At the top, American Johnson Wagner turned in a second successive 69 to retain his lead, which was cut to just one stroke by compatriot Chad Campbell, with a total of 15-under 201.
Campbell was at the sole second spot after returning a sizzling 65 that was studded with seven birdies and an eagle against a couple of bogeys.
Indian selectors have tough task ahead
S S Ramaswamy
Ahmedabad, Apr 5 (PTI) The national selection panel, headed by Dilip Vengsarkar, has an unenviable task ahead when it meets here tomorrow to choose the squad for the crucial third and final Test starting in Kanpur on April 11.
The quandary they are facing is about the changes to be made to provide the cutting edge to the team, for what has become a must-win game for India at Green Park.
One of the changes expected at the top is that Wasim Jaffer as after his flop show in Australia and here he could be axed.
The obvious replacement, in such eventuality, is Delhi left-hander Gautam Gambhir, who has cemented his place in the ODI team but is yet to do so at the highest level of the game.
If the batting lacked guts and character on a wicket with a greenish tinge on the first morning, the bowling also lacked the necessary bite on the same track, on which the SA pace trio blew away the much-vaunted home team line-up inside the first session for a pathetic 76.
Pacers R P Singh and Irfan Pathan, included as a specialist bowler who could bat lower down, looked totally out of sorts and clearly did not show the necessary sting, while Shantakumaran Sreesanth looked only slightly better.
Indian embassy in UAE outsources consular work
Dubai, Apr 6 (PTI) The Indian embassy in UAE has outsourced the collection of applications for passports and visas to help reduce the inconvenience caused to the public.
The move is expected to make things easier for thousands of Indian nationals and others who seek consular services every day, and would also reduce the heavy rush at the existing two offices at Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The contract was signed by the Indian Ambassador to UAE Talmiz Ahmed and Sultan A Al Midfa, Chief Executive Officer, Empost signed here today whereby the latter will set up 12 dedicated centres to receive passport and visa applications.
Indian consul-general Venu Rajamony was also present on the occasion.
At present, the Indian Embassy and the Consulate together annually provide around two hundred thousand passport services and 63,000 visas in the UAE.
Over 4,000 people visit the Embassy and the Consulate every day to seek these services.
Later addressing a press conference, Ahmad said the proposed collection centres set up by Empost across the UAE will help reduce the inconvenience caused to the public and help in reducing the heavy rush at the two offices.PTI
PSUs seek freedom to fix variables like allowances and perks
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Concerned over reactions from government employees to the quantum of hikes recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, PSUs today sought freedom to decide on allowances and incentives to attract talent from IIMs and IITs, which has eluded them for over five years now.
"The pay packets are not enough even to pay back the loans taken for education in top business and technical institutions. During the last five years there have hardly been any induction among PSUs from IIMs and IITs.
"Are these institutions the nursery for MNCs only," S M Deewan, Director General of the apex body of Public Sector Undertakings, SCOPE, said today, demanding that PSU Boards be allowed to deploy a share of their profits for human resource development.
The Sixth Pay Commission has recommended an average increase of 40 per cent in the packages over that of the previous Pay Commission. Deewan's comments coincide with hikes in fees being announced by the IIMs.
The demand comes days before the submission of the report by the Second Pay Revision Committee, headed by Justice J M Rao, possibly by the month-end.
"If the government employees are dissatisfied with the Pay Commission recommendations, why do it to PSU executives," Deewan wondered and said that unless there is attractive entry level salaries and quick promotions and rewards for the performers the PSUs could be 'devoid' of top talent in the coming decade. PTI
Microsoft threatens Yahoo! to take bid to shareholders
Silicon Valley, Apr 6 (PTI) Taking its bid to buy Yahoo! to a new level, Microsoft has threatened to take its offer directly to the shareholders of the Internet giant and hinted even at a proxy contest for a new board, if an agreement is not reached within the next three weeks.
In a letter to the Yahoo! board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said by choosing not to enter into substantive negotiations with us, you have failed to give due consideration to a transaction that has tremendous benefits for Yahoo!'s shareholders and employees.
"If we have not concluded an agreement within the next three weeks we will be compelled to take our case directly to your shareholders, including the initiation of a proxy contest to elect an alternative slate of directors for the Yahoo! board," he said.
Meanwhile, a source said Yahoo's board is expected to discuss Ballmer's letter next week, as well as provide a briefing on how talks between the two firms went last week.
"The substantial premium reflected in our initial proposal anticipated a friendly transaction with you. If we are forced to take an offer directly to your shareholders, that action will have an undesirable impact on the value of your company from our perspective which will be reflected in the terms of our proposal."
Inflation rate doubles in three months of 2008
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Much to chagrin of the UPA government, inflation rate almost doubled during the three months of 2008 to reach the 39-month high mark of 7 per cent.
Although 2008 began with inflation rate of 3.79 per cent for week ended January 5, prices rose as the year progressed.
The wholesale price based inflation crossed 4 per cent by end of January and 5 per cent in February. As per the latest data, the price line rose 7 per cent in the week ended March 22.
The annual rate of inflation since January, according to official data, has gone up by 3.21 per cent with highest increase of 1.98 being recorded during the four weeks ended March 22.
Such a sudden spurt in prices has thrown household budget of the common man into disarray, putting pressure on the government and the Reserve Bank to take steps to control the inflationary pressure.
Although the government has already taken a host of fiscal measures like scrapping import duty on crude edible oils and banning export of non-basmati rice and pulses to check spiralling prices, the impact would be felt only by the end of the month.
Sending a strong signal to hoarders, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath had warned "We will not hesitate to take the strictest measures, including using legal provisions against hoarding and profiteering whether in food, cement or steel." Rising prices have already taken a political colour, with senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha accusing the government of "complete failure" in checking the price rise.
Roongta to be designated SAIL CEO; SAIL board to be overhauled
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) State-run steel giant SAIL management will be overhauled with its Chairman S K Roongta likely to be designated as its Chief Executive Officer, while the number of Directors on its Board will be pruned to 17 to enable the PSU to infuse vibrancy in its functioning.
"We realise that SAIL needs to take quick decisions in view of its ongoing expansion and modernisation programme worth Rs 54,000 crore to reach a capacity of 26 million tonnes by 2010. We believe that its management of the steel giant needs to be more vibrant and that is why there is a proposal to prune the number of Directors on its Board from 24 to 17," a senior Steel Ministry official told PTI.
The Ministry has forwarded the proposal to the government for its consideration and it is understood that Appointments Committee of the Cabinet is currently considering the matter.
Out of 24 Directors on its Board, SAIL has 10 independent directors as two posts are still lying vacant.
He pointed out that the Ministry is keen to ensure that Steel Authority of India Limited completes its expansion programmes in time, especially when the demand-supply mismatch was hovering around 7 per cent.
With no fresh capacities coming up and steel demand within the country shooting up, prices of the alloy too have risen by about Rs 7,000 during the past five months, triggering concerns that steel prices were contributing substantially in a potentially inflationary economy, he said.
"A smaller Board will be able to take faster decisions and enable the PSU meet its needs on time. Under the proposed dispensation SAIL Chairman Sushil Kumar Roongta will be designated as the CEO of the company with adequate powers to steer it," the official said.
Pro-Tibet protesters clash with police, mar the torch parade
London, April 6 (PTI) Despite massive police bandobust, pro-Tibet protesters repeatedly clashed with police and marred the the Olympic torch parade here today.
Champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave began the relay, taking the torch out of the newly renovated Wembley stadium as it began its 50-km journey to Greenwich's O2 Arena.
Police arrested three people when they tried to board the bus carrying the torch from the stadium. Protesters later tried to snatch the torch from Konnie Huq and a fire extinguisher was let off.
Police in hundreds provided a protective ring around the torch.
Braving unseasonal snow and chilly weather, hundreds of people including sizeable number of pro-Tibetan campaigners had lined up the route as the Torch relay passed through Ladbroke Grove, British Museum and China Town.
It is scheduled to pass through Trafalgar Square, Southbank Centre, Somerset House, St Paul's Cathedral, Potter's Fields, Whitechapel Road, Stratford, Canary Wharf before reaching North Greenwich at dusk.
Pro-Tibet campaigners had appealed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown not to welcome the torch in Downing Street and to boycott the Beijing Olympics unless China opened talks with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
But Brown resisted the calls pointing out that the exiled Tibetan leader opposed such action.
Those taking part in the relay in London include 10 Olympic champions, 18 schoolchildren and public figures such as news reader Sir Trevor McDonald and musician Vanessa Mae.
Metropolitan Police said 2,000 officers are mobilised to maintain order along the route of the relay. PTI
PPP, PML-N ministers avoid meeting Musharraf
Islamabad, Apr 6 (PTI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and his depleted band of close aides have been left with little to do after the formation of a coalition government by the PPP and PML-N, whose ministers have been keeping away from the former military ruler.
The President, who is armed with key discretionary powers, has usually worked closely with new governments in Islamabad in the past. But in a departure from the past -- despite the ruling Pakistan People's Party saying it is willing to work with Musharraf -- the government ministers have been maintaining a distance from him.
There is an "undeclared ban" on PPP ministers and leaders meeting Musharraf, an official told 'The News'. Only ministers whose presence or appearance with the President is officially essential, in line with protocol requirements, are being allowed to meet him.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani is yet to hold an official one-on-one meeting with Musharraf. Gillani only met the President on the day he was sworn-in as Premier and again at the oath-taking of his Cabinet at the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency a few days later.
PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has not met the President and has no plans to see him in the near future, sources said. On the other hand, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly called for Musharraf to resign following the rout of the President's supporters in the general election. PTI
EU Parliament rejects reference to Kashmir
Brussels, Apr 6 (PTI) The European Parliament (EP) has rejected an attempt to include a reference on Kashmir in its latest global annual report on human rights but went ahead to criticise the worsening rights situation in China and Pakistan.
An attempt by British EP member of Pakistani origin, Sajjad Karim, to include a reference on Kashmir in the report was rejected, the EUAsiaNews said.
The EP report noted the worsening human rights situation in Pakistan throughout 2007, including in particular the threats to the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media.
The report hopes that those responsible for the assassination of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto are identified and held responsible as soon as possible.
The EP report also criticised the human rights situation in China, Iran, and Russia.
It expressed "its disquiet at the serious human rights violations" in China and stressed that, despite promises made by Beijing with a view to the forthcoming Olympic Games, the situation on the ground regarding human rights "has not improved".
The report deplored the "ongoing violations of human rights and democracy" by the military junta in Myanmar and supported the European Union's commitment to attaining its stated objectives, namely the establishment of a legitimate, democratic civilian government which respects the human rights of its people and restores normal relations with the international community.
The EP report, however, condemned the fact that the European Union is still far from conducting a "coherent and hard-hitting policy" to uphold and promote human rights around the world. PTI
Sr Minister among 12 killed in Lanka suicide blast
Colombo, Apr 6 (PTI) A senior Tamil-speaking minister and 11 others were killed and over 90 injured in a powerful suicide bombing at a ceremony marking the start of a marathon race as part of Sri Lanka's traditional New Year celebrations near here, officials said.
The incident blamed by the government on the Tamil Tigers occurred at the western district of Grampaha, about 25 kms from the capital Colombo, where Minister of Highways and Road Development, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, was attending a function to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Fernandopulle, a vocal critic of Tamil Tigers, was about to wave a flag to start a merathon race when the bomb went off at the Kanthi playground in Weliveriya town of the district.
The minister, regarded as a potential prime minister-in waiting, died of injuries sustained in the blast at a hospital, officials said.
They said 11 others, including former Olympic marathoner K A Karunaratne and national athletic coach Lakshman de Alwis, were also killed in the suicide blast.
Over 90 people, including Grampaha police Senior Superintendent Hector Darmasiri, were seriously injured in the blast and rushed to a local hospital, the Defence Ministry said while blaming the Tamil Tiger rebels for the blast.
Fernandopulle, who was a Sri Lankan delegation member in the failed peace talks with the Tamil Tigers, has become the second minister to have been assassinated this year.
D M Dassanayake, Minister for Nation Building, was killed in a bomb blast in the same district on January 8, days after the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers.
Indian among 3 arrested over biggest seizure of heroin in UK
London, Apr 6 (PTI) An Indian was among three persons nabbed by the British police in connection with the biggest ever seizure of heroin worth 15 to 20 million pounds, police said today.
The Indian man was identified as 30-year old Harminder Chana, who was taken into custody by the Metropolitan police. Apart from Chana, Pakistani-origin Atif Khan (31) and Dutchman Patrick Kuster (35) were arrested over the seizure of 350 kgs of heroin valued at 15 to 20 million pounds.
The specialist crime central task force seized the huge quantity heroin from two cars at a motorway service station in Kent on Thursday.
Chana and Kuster were arrested in the motorway service station, while Khan was taken into custody in Ilford in east London.
Officers saw the Dutchman transferring cardboard boxes from a BMW into another car in a parking lot off a highway southeast of London on Thursday.
Police found ten more boxes full of heroin inside the BMW. They seized a total of 350 kgs in the bust.
Detective chief inspector Peter Beyer said "this is one of the largest ever seizures of heroin by police in the UK. We've severely disrupted a highly organised criminal network engaged in the widescale importation and distribution of class A drugs." The three men will be produced before a court tomorrow.
Legendary Hollywood actor Charlton Heston dead
Los Angeles, Apr 6 (PTI) Iconic Hollywood actor Charlton Heston, best known for his portrayal of a larger than life figure in the 1959 Oscar-winning film 'Ben Hur', has died at the age of 84.
He died at his Beverly Hills home last night with his wife of 64 years, Lydia, by his side, the family said today.
The superstar, who was believed to be suffering from the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, is survived by a son and a daughter and three grandchildren.
"Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played," the family said in a statement. "No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country." The family said it would hold a private memorial service while no funeral plans have been announced.
"We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humour," the actor's family said. "He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved." Heston rose to fame in the 1950s with starring in movies like Ben Hur, for which he won an Oscar. He played Moses in the Ten Commandments.
Heston's last acting assignment was playing an elderly Josef Mengele, the Auschwitz Nazi surgeon who performed medical experiments on concentration camp refugees during World War Two, in the 2003 movie My Father, Rua Alguem 5555. PTI
I am a born director, says Ajay Devgan
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Keeping his fingers crossed ahead of the release of his directorial debut "U, Me aur Hum", Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan says he is going to continue directing good entertaining movies whether the film clicks or not at the box office.
Devgan says that for him it was not a major shift from acting to direction as he believes that he is a born director and has that fire within him.
"I started my career directing small budget films, so it was not a major change. In my early days, apart from acting in movies, I tried my hand in production, direction, music composing and all," Devgan says.
"I assisted my father in his directorial ventures several times and both of us knew that I have the flame in me to develop an idea and give it a shape. But then, I became an actor and didn't get the time to direct." Devgan is very positive about the success of his first directorial attempt. He believes he has done justice with the script and has come out with a entertaining story.
"I will continue with direction as it is my favourite hobby or you can say a passion. I will not make a movie only for the sake of it, but will do it only when a right script will come my way," says the actor, who has won two national awards for best actor for his role in "Zakhm", and "Legend of Bhagat Singh".
But that does not mean curtains down for him as an actor as Devgan says his acting career will continue side-by-side.
Though a veteran in Bollywood, Devgan hopes that the film, in which his wife Kajol co-stars him, will be an entertainer. PTI
Network 18 to get into cinema biz, roll out theatre chain
Vijaya Rathore
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Media conglomerate Network 18 is foraying into cinema screening business with plans to open a chain of theatres across India. The initiative is expected to kick off within this year.
The group has created a separate entity 'Starglaze' and the entire project would be funded by the its financial arm Capital 18, industry sources said.
The plan is to nationally roll out multiplexes, which will have cinema screens and food courts besides other entertainment zones, with a special focus on smaller cities.
When contacted Capital 18 officials declined to comment on its latest venture. It could not be ascertained how much the group planned to invest on the new venture.
But the company has already started working on the branding part of the initiative, according to sources.
Besides catering to the niche and premium crowd in the metros, the company was also actively looking at making entertainment more affordable. It is expected to device different pricing models for different markets, the sources added.
There could be two pricing models, one for the premium markets and the other one for the Tier II and Tier III cities.
With the new move, TV 18 would be joining the list of the existing multiplex chains such as PVR Cinemas, Cinemax, Inox Leisure, Pritish Nandy Communications, Shringar, Fun Cinemas, Pyramid Saimira Theatres, Sathyam Cinemas, Wave Cinemas and Adlabs.
Registration of marriage? not many really care
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) It may have been made in heaven but Sanjay Dutt's much hyped wedlock with Manayata was 'unmade' in Goa with the authorities withdrawing the registration.
Although the celebrity marriage kicked up a storm in the media and led to an action by the Goa government against an official, experts say non-registration does not nullify and infact, not many in the country really bother to go to the marriage registar's office.
"It cannot be said that due to non-registration, a marriage is invalid. Registration of a marriage is only a formality just like registration of a child's birth or of a death, on the part of government to keep track of the numbers. Otherwise in India, lakhs of marriages take place in a year as per customary rites and rituals and the government has no data regarding such marriages," says a senior Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Gupta.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling that mandates each and every marriage to be registered, lawyers claim that there is only a very small proportion of the population that actually gets it done.
"Generally people who marry against the wishes of their parents or want to go to foreign countries apply for registration. In a nutshell, we could say that not more than 5 out of 100 come for registration," says Gupta.
Parija P, a lawyer who specialises in divorce and related cases says, "It is wrong to say that it is mandatory for a couple to get a marriage certificate to get married. Marriage is one aspect and registration of a marriage is another aspect. It could never be said that due to non-registration, a marriage is invalid." PTI
Dinosaurs and aliens join samurai warriors at Mumbai museum
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Dilophosaurus, the carnivorous dinosaur from 'Jurrasic Park,' Danny DeVito, the evil Penguin from 'Batman Returns' and a model of the Alien Queen from 'Aliens' will figure among a collection of Hollywood memorabilia that is soon coming to Mumbai.
The country's first ever musuem-archive-entertainment centre 'The Osianama,' has purchased Rs 1.15 crore worth of artworks used in various Hollywood films and auctioned at the recent 'Profiles in History' auction held at Los Angeles.
The highlight of the collection is the hand-painted and detailed solid poly-foam pieces of the Dilophosaurus display study used in the Steven Speilberg's 'Jurrasic Park' bought for USD 27,500.
Neville Tuli, the founder chairman of Archive cum Auction House, Osian, says "Young minds have a fascination for the Sci-Fi and horror film creatures which show magnificent imagination and represent some of the most unique creations of Hollywood. To see the smiles on the faces of our children when they see these artworks will be wonderful." The adult Pteranodon and five banies "feeding" on screen used Baby T Rex stunt puppet from Jurassic Park II as well as the Dilophosaurus display study are all mounted on a wooden base.
Also the Danny DeVito Penguin display study from the 1992 Warner Bros blockbuster 'Batman Returns' bought for USD 42,500 is a meticulously created full-scale model built and painted by the same artists responsible for designing and sculpting the original look of the Penguin.
Produced from molds used for makeup pieced and a 66 inch life cast of Danny DeVito, was purchased along with the hero penguin Henchman from the same film. PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week March 29- April 4, 2008
Saturday
New Delhi: Seven people, including two children, arekilled and several others injured when a four-storey under-construction building collapsed in North East Delhi.
Coimbatore: A six-day Congress of the CPI(M)begins withcalls for forging a "third alternative" to BJP and theCongress and a demand for dismantling of the Indo-US defencepact, topping its serious opposition to the civilian nuclear deal with that country.
Sunday
Kanpur: Sending mixed signals in Uttar Pradesh, Congresshints at a possible alliance with the Samajwadi party against BSP and accuses the state government of corruption saying Chief Minister Mayawati cannot be expected to give a"transparent" administration.
Panaji: The mother of rape and murder victim Scarlett Keeling says she will seek the help of Britain's Scotland Yardin probing the case, even as the National Commission for Womenheld that Goa police investigations were "completelymisleading".
Monday
Bhopal: Seven activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) are arrested on charges of providingassistance to their former chief Safdar Nagori and 12 othertop leaders nabbed last week in a major crackdown against theoutfit.
New Delhi: Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan gets a majorrelief from the Supreme Court which rejects Uttar PradeshGovernment's plea for ordering investigation into thecontroversial Barabanki land deal in which the actorrepresented himself as an agriculturist. Muzaffarnagar/Lucknow: Supporters of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Mahendra Singh Tikait clash with police trying to arrest him for his allegedly casteist remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.
Tuesday New Delhi: The rural job guarantee scheme is extended to all the 604 rural districts of the country to provide 100 days of employment to the "aam admi", a year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Chennai/Bangalore: The row over the Hogenakkal water supply project rages with pro-Kannada groups threatening to oppose screening of Tamil movies in Karnataka and called for a state-wide bandh on April 10 while the Tamil Nadu assembly demands Centre's intervention to stop violence in the neighbouring state.
Wednesday
Muzaffarnagar(UP): Ending three days of tension and drama, farmers' leader Mahendra Singh Tikait surrenders before a Bijnore court and immediately secures bail after night-long negotiations with the administration to avoid a forcible arrest.
New Delhi: Karnataka will have three-phased assembly elections on May 10, 16 and 22 that will require extension of the President's rule by a short spell.
Panaji: Under pressure on the credibility of the police investigation, the Goa government formally decides to seek a CBI probe into the death of British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling.
New Delhi: The income tax department accuses Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of evading payment of tax by showing "sham transactions" in the assessment year 2003-04 and challenges an IT appellate tribunal order giving her a clean chit.
Thursday Coimbatore: Prakash Karat, the hardline marxist in the midst of political brinkmanship over the Indo-US nuclear deal, is re-elected as CPI(M) General Secretary while it is curtains down for veterans Jyoti Basu and Harikishen Singh Surjeet.
New Delhi/Islamabad: India and Pakistan decide on early resumption of the stalled composite dialogue as External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee called up his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi to greet him on assumption of office.
Srinagar: Police arrest the chief spokesman of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
Friday Chennai/Bangalore: The Hogenakkal water supply project, which sparked off violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during the past few days, saw film industry of the two states shut work and hold fast endorsing their respective governments' stand.
New Delhi: The Centre announces a massive hike in rentals ranging from 200 to 500 per cent for use of land requisitioned for counter-insurgency deployment in Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi: Two years after he quit BJP openly criticising L K Advani, veteran Delhi leader Madan Lal Khurana is re-inducted into the party after he expressed "regret" for his comments against the leader. PTI
Empowering women in Uttarakhand
Deepti Saxena
Dehra Dun, Apr 4 (PTI) They played an important role in the formation of the state. Women in Uttarakhand are now poised to play an even bigger role thanks to a new legislation reserving 50 per cent posts in Panchayats in the state.
Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to bring legislation on to accord 50 per cent seats in panchayats to wmen. The Uttarakhand Panchayat Law (Ammendement) Act 2008, was passed by the state assembly on March 13.
"This legislation will give due representation to the fairer sex in decision-making process as they deserve it being nearly half of the population," said Panchayati Raj Minister Bishen Singh Chufal after the passage of the bill. Socila activists believe that increasing the women's share in the Panchayati Raj system would bring a quiet revolution in the state.
"Our assessment is that women generally keep themselves away from corruption, a factor which is crucial for the proper utilization of funds," said Sunder Lal Bahuguna, renowned social activist and Chipko leader.
As per the statistics, there are 7,227 village panchayats, 95 block or intermediary panchayats and 13 district panchayats in the state. At present, there are a total of 50,966 women panchayat functionaries in the state out of which 47,306 are at gram panchayat level, 3,315 at block panchayat level and 345 at district panchayat level. PTI
Vote bank politics fosters illegal migration into NE: Book
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) Outwardly secular, politics in India is all about vote banks and keeping a party in power. No wonder the problem of infiltration of illegal migrants remains unresolved, threatening to snowball into major crisis, say intellectuals from the North East.
'Voice of Assam,' a collection of writings of 25 distinguised litterateurs fear a situation was developing which may lead to a major ethnic conflagration.
As a result of infiltration "few districts of upper Assam coming together and raising a demand for another separate state free from the domination of Muslims fundamentalists, cannot be ruled out," says the book.
The writers warn that unabated infiltration of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is turning the secular society of Northeast being divided into "religious, linguistic and tribal segments at the state and administrative levels, ostensible on the ground of opposing seccessionism and aversion to party politics." The book blames the vote-bank politics, both at the regional level and at the centre, for the situation.
"Each political party of the state, national or regional, has fallen victim to the 'Vote-Bank' politics which has so far proved to be the main hurdle against fighting the ever-growing menace of infiltration," says the book 'Voice of Assam,' edited by Satish Chandra Chowdhury and Harendra Kalita.
The problem is likely to overwhelm the entire northeast and her indigenous people in not too far distant a future, it warns.
(About the book: Voice of Assam, Publisher:Assam Sahitya Sabha, Edited by:Satish Chandra Chowdhury and Harendra Kalita, Price: Rs 200)PTI
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