RSS national
executive meet today

KANPUR, June 29: Senior leaders of the Sangh Parivar would participate in a two-day Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) national executive meeting slated to begin here tomorrow, for which hectic last minute.....more

Jaya defends arrest
of some reporters

CHENNAI, June 29: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha today defended the arrest of some reporters and charged former Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi with attempting to "vitiate" cordial relations..more

New GOC for ATNK&G area

CHENNAI, June 29: Maj Gen Anup Singh Jamwal would take over as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Goa area, tomorrow....more

9 new trains being introduced by NR

NEW DELHI, June 29: Two superfast Rajdhani Expresses connecting Delhi with Jharkhand and Chattisgarh are among the nine new trains being introduced by the Northern Railway. ..more

13th century Delhi shrine gets face-lift for Musharraf

NEW DELHI, June 29: The last details of Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s itinerary may not yet be official, but the face-lift that some of the Capital’s landmarks are getting seem to be a give away. ....more

DI pays Rs 20 lakh
ranson for release of son

GUWAHATI, June 29: A Deputy Inspector of Schools (DI) has paid Rs 20 lakhs as ransom to the ULFA activists to secure the release of his son....more

Former Maharashtra Minister acquitted in murder case

SATARA, June 29: In a significant judgement, a local court today acquitted Udyanraje Bhosale, minister in the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP Government in....more

Vintage Chennai
church to get facelift

CHENNAI, June 29: The century-old Santhome Cathedral Basilica, the third church in the world to be built on the tomb of an apostle of Jesus Christ, is being renovated here at a cost of Rs two crore. ...more



RSS national executive meet today

KANPUR, June 29: Senior leaders of the Sangh Parivar would participate in a two-day Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) national executive meeting slated to begin here tomorrow, for which hectic last minute preparations were underway today.

Sangh leaders, including RSS chief K Sudarshan, his predecessor Prof Rajendra Singh alias Rajju Bhaiyya, Vishwa Hindu Parishad Executive President Ashok Singhal, general secretary Dr Praveen Bhai Togadiya, Sar Karyavahak Mohan Rao Bhagwat, Bharatiya Janata Party former president Kushabhau Thakre and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh founder Dattopant Thengdi are camping here for the session, a Sangh spokesman said.

Informal discussions and group meetings were underway at the meet venue, Jai Narain Vidhya Mandir, to frame issues and finalise drafts of about six resolutions to be moved at the conclave, he added.

The resolutions include those related to the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and threats to national security. The issues of Indo-Pak summit meeting at Agra next month, situation in Manipur and adjoining states, insurgency in Kashmir, child labour, economic policies and threats of multinational companies are also likely to figure at the meet. (UNI)

Jaya defends arrest of some reporters

CHENNAI, June 29: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha today defended the arrest of some reporters and charged former Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi with attempting to "vitiate" cordial relations and goodwill between her Government and the press.

In a chat with reporters at the Raj Bhavan here, she said the police had acted in accordance with law in arresting the reporters who tried to waylay the Chief Minister’s convoy at the Secretariat yesterday and attempted to take out a procession to the complex without permission today.

Ms Jayalalitha said,"certain mischievous elements in the press were trying to whip up passions and trying to vitiate the atmosphere. I hope many of you will not fall prey to such designs."

Defending her Government’s handling of the media, she said she personally had a lot of goodwill for the media.

Ms Jayalalitha said Sun TV reporter G Suresh was arrested for "trespassing" the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation godown at Villupuram.

The Government would not oppose his bail application when it comes up for hearing today, she said in reply to a query. Asked whether charges against the Sun TV reporter would be dropped to create a cordial atmosphere, Ms Jayalalitha said :‘I can’t say anything now".

Giving a "detailed account of how reporters and television crew were assaulted and jailed" during the previous Karunanidhi regime, she said press associations had never protested or attempted to meet the then Chief Minister to seek relief.

When Jaya and Zee TV reporters were arrested and their expensive cameras damaged during the previous regime, no one raised a whimper of protest, she claimed.

Ms Jayalalitha said media representatives met her at the Secretariat last evening, adding that when she asked them why they had not protested against "violent attacks" on the media during the Karunanidhi regime, they (the representatives) had no answer.

She said her Government was dealing with the press with "kid gloves".

Meanwhile, senior police officials said those from the media taken into custody would be released anytime now and that no charges would be pressed against them. (UNI)

New GOC for ATNK&G area

CHENNAI, June 29: Maj Gen Anup Singh Jamwal would take over as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Goa area, tomorrow.

Jamwal has been appointed in place of Maj Gen V Jayashankar, who relinquishes charge on retirement, according to a defence press release here today.

An alumni of National Defence Academy, Jamwal was commissioned in the Artillery Regiment in 1966 and inducted into general cadre in 1993.

He was promoted and appointed as the Chief of Staff of a Corps in April 1998. (PTI)

9 new trains being introduced by NR

NEW DELHI, June 29: Two superfast Rajdhani Expresses connecting Delhi with Jharkhand and Chattisgarh are among the nine new trains being introduced by the Northern Railway.

Announcing the summer time table for the Northern Railway here today, its General Manager S Dasharathy said these trains were proposed in the railway budget for 2001-02.The 2439 and 2440 New Delhi-Hatia Express and the 2441 and 2442 New Delhi-Bilaspur Rajdhani Express would be run once a week. No trains earmarked by the NR as mentioned in the budget presented by the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had been dropped,he said while answering a query.

The Rajdhani Express between New Delhi and Sealdah, which was introduced by the former Railway Minister connecting Kolkata, will be run four days a week instead twice a week. Another Rajdhani Express between Guwahati and New Delhi will be extended once a week to Dibrugarh in Assam. Besides, there will be a superfast bi-weekly train between New Delhi and Gorakhpur, according to the summer time table.

The other new trains to be introduced are weekly Jodhpur-Chennai -Egmore Express, Amtritsar—Asansol Express and Valsad-Patna Express. A DMU will be run between Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur and another between Fazilka and Kotkapura and a passenger train between Chandausi-Moradabad.

The Deharadun Gorakhpur Express will be run thrice a week instead of bi-weekly and the Nizamuddin Bilaspur Gondwana Express will be run five days a week instead of three days.

The operation of 14 trains will be extended. These are Jammu Tawi Express will run up to Ahmedabad, Jaipur-Jodhpur intercity to Sawai Madhopur, Surat-Patna Express to Bhagalpur, Saryu Yamuna Express and Saheed Express to Amritsar, Varanasi—Pune Express to Bhagalpur once a week, Jodhpur -Kalka to Haridwar, Rewari Tatangar passenger to Deganga, Hissar-Churu to Ratangarh, Churu- Deganga to Sadhulpur Jalandhar-Lohiankhas passenger to Firozpur, Ludhiana—Jakhal passenger to Hissar, Jodhpur-Kota will be merged with Bhopal-Kota passenger and between Bhopal and Jodhpur and Narvana—Kurukshetra passenger to Jind.

Six trains have been cancelled due to inadequate utilisation by the travelling public. These are the Kalka—Amritsar Express, Sriganganagar -Kalka link express, Mughalsarai—Kathgodam Express cancelled between Bareilly and Kathgodam and it will be run between Mugalarai and Bareilly. The Howrah-Gorakhur Express will be run via Barauni Ballia instead of Mughalsarai —Varanasi, Allahabad -Naini Choki passenger and 2 CBS ‘3 SS passenger will be operated between Sitapur cantonment and Sitapur city. (UNI)

13th century Delhi shrine gets face-lift for Musharraf

NEW DELHI, June 29: The last details of Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s itinerary may not yet be official, but the face-lift that some of the Capital’s landmarks are getting seem to be a give away.

Top on the list of most likely places that the General may be going to, after the house in which he was born, is the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, one of the most revered Islamic shrines in South Asia.

The shrine of the 13th century sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, better known as ‘Mehboob-e-Ilahi’ or (god’s favourite) is agog with workers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) working to clean a 700-year old baoli or water tank in the shrine.

As the water pumps race against time to pump out the green water of the tank that is supposed to have ‘miraculous’ powers, workers are busy scrubbing out the moss and mud from the stone steps of the tank, that was last cleansed eight years ago.

Syed Kashif Ali Nizami, the chief in-charge of Dargah-Sharif, neither confirms nor denies that the Pakistani general would be kicking off his first foreign tour after he proclaimed himself President by paying obeisance here.

"I was called to a meeting of the Corporation authorities who informed me about the activities that would be undertaken for providing the all important-touch up," says Nizami adding that final programme would only be known a couple of days in advance.

Unlike the bylanes of Old Delhi, where the renovation has to be done on a large-scale in a haveli for its prodigal son, not much would need to be altered here for the Pakistani President.

The shrine is experienced in handling the security concerns of the high and mighty. A separate narrow roofed winding passage from the baoli side is used for dignitaries, informs the shrine in-charge as he shows the passage, where workers are busy white-washing the roof and cleaning the marble-tiled passage.

"This is preferred for dignitaries, as security hassels are taken care of," he says listing the former Pakistani heads of states and governments who have been to the shrine in the past.

A visit to the shrine, will be a veritable pilgrimage for the Pakistani President. In keeping with the custom, he will first be taken to the memorial of Hazrat Khwaja Amir Khusro, the principal disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin who lies buried in the same compound.

"After paying respects to "Chotte Baba" as Amir Khusro is referred to. They may then proceed to an adjacent mosque built by Alauddin Khilji, in the 13th century where the Baba used to pray.

"The President may offer namaz at the mosque if he so desires," says Nizami, adding that quawwalis would also be organised in the Dargah durbar for the President.(PTI)

DI pays Rs 20 lakh ranson for release of son

GUWAHATI, June 29: A Deputy Inspector of Schools (DI) has paid Rs 20 lakhs as ransom to the ULFA activists to secure the release of his son.

District Superintendent of Police Sarat Phukan told mediapersons here yesterday that DI of Nalbari district Girin Haloi’s son, Ridip, was abducted by the ultras early this month and the outfit demanded a sum of Rs 50 lakhs to free him.

The SP said Mr Haloi had already paid Rs 20 lakhs somewhere in tihu area in the district. Police intercepted another effort on his part to give Rs 10 lakhs on Wednesday.

He said the DI had allegedly made illegal appointments of more than 5000 teachers to the lower primary schools over a long period of time and had amassed enough money to meet the demands of the ultras. The payment of ransom has brought his corrupt means of acquiring money to the fore, he added. (UNI)

Former Maharashtra Minister acquitted in murder case

SATARA, June 29: In a significant judgement, a local court today acquitted Udyanraje Bhosale, minister in the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP Government in Maharashtra, along with 14 others, of the charge of murder of NCP activist Sharad Lehve.

In his 171-page judgement, Sessions Judge S G Kulkarni gave the accused benefit of doubt and set them free.

Pronouncing the verdict amidst tight security in a jam-packed courtroom, the judge held that the victim had died in a mob attack and the statements of eye witnesses could not be relied upon because there was no light on the street in the wee hours when Lehve was killed.

Udayanraje, the 13th descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji and BJP candidate in the last Assembly elections, was arrested on September 11, 1999 along with 14 others on the charge of killing lehve on the eve of the State Assembly poll. The accused had taken the plea of ‘alibi’ saying that he was confined to Rajtara Hotel with his partymen when Sharad Lehve was killed. He did not venture out of the hotel and so there was no question of his involvement in the crime.

Udayanraje’s counsel D V Patil examined 10 defence witnesses to prove that his client was closetted in his hotel room with his colleagues when Lehve was murdered.

After examining 35 witnesses, prosecution closed its case in April. Some witnesses, including policeman and bodyguard of the accused, P T Bhosale, turned hostile.

Udayanraje, who had unsuccessfully contested as a BJP candidate from Satara, pleaded that he had been falsely implicated in the crime due to political rivalry.

The prosecution, however, contended that Lehve was killed because he was the supporter of Abhaysingh Bhosale, Udayanraje’s uncle and arch rival, who had contested as an NCP candidate.

On June 28 last year, the court had framed charges against Udayanraje and 14 others for their complicity in the crime. The trial began in October.

In August last, Mumbai High Court had rejected the bail plea of Udayanraje on medical grounds as well as merit after prosecution alleged there was prima facie case against the accused in view of eye witnesses to the crime. His plea for liberty was also turned down by the trial court earlier. (PTI)

Vintage Chennai church to get facelift

CHENNAI, June 29: The century-old Santhome Cathedral Basilica, the third church in the world to be built on the tomb of an apostle of Jesus Christ, is being renovated here at a cost of Rs two crore.

The massive shrine, erected 106 years ago on the coromandel coast with all gothic architectural splendour, was consecrated in 1896 by Rev Dom Henriques Reed De Silva, the first bishop of the diocese of Mylapore.

This Basilica is built on the tomb of st.Thomas, the doubting apostle of Jesus Christ, thus earning the distinction of being the only church in the country and the third in the world to be constructed over the tomb of an apostle of christ.

The two other such churches are the ones built on the tombs of St Paul and St Peter in Rome.

Lately, the plastering on the roof of the Basilica here started peeling off and the walls developed cracks. This prompted the Madras-Mylapore diocese to take up a massive renovation work.

"It will be completed before Christmas next year," said Rev Lawrence Raj, Parish Priest of the Santhome Cathedral.

Extensive renovation and painting work would also be taken up in the first tower which dons the facade of the Basilica, with the tip of the cross on the spire standing at 155 ft from the ground level, he pointed out.

Stating that the architectural aesthetics of the cathedral was essentially gothic, he said utmost care and reverence would be taken to preserve the architectural beauty and the interior which offers an awesome vista of a Grand Collage of Italian stained glass panels and regal woodwork.

"The magnificent glass windows in the backdrop of the main altar, showing Jesus Christ as the priest, prophet and king, will also be preserved," he added.

Sometime in the 10th century, a group of nestorian Christians from Persia, formally founded this Christian village of Santhome and built a church and tomb over the burial site of St Thomas. This old Nestorian Chapel was pulled down in 1892.

The Basilica also houses a museum where great antiquity like the lance-head which was used to kill St Thomas, his bones, a chair dating back to 1611 ad and multilingual inscriptions scrolled in 12th century were being preserved.

With the participation of the general public and Christians, every effort would be taken to sustain the pristine grandeur of this wonderful treasure for the generations to come, the priest added. (UNI)

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