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Delhi HC rejects NEW DELHI, Sept 9: The Delhi High Court today dismissed the bail petition of senior IPS officer Ravi Kant Sharma, prime suspect in the journalist .....more Bollywood turning NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Perhaps it is because of continual migration to cities, or increasing urbanisation, or just a case of following......more ‘Business
rules NEW DELHI, Sept 9: In the midst of the brewing controversy over the Centre’s recent.....more PM
leaves for US to NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today.....more |
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Union Minister conducts surpise visit to Railway Station SALEM, Sept 9: Union Minister of State for Railways A K Murthy today conducted surprise inspec.......more Paswan ready to align NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan today said his party was.....more PSLV to lift off with CHENNAI, Sept 9: An improved version of PSLV, India’s workhorse satellite launch vehicle, is ......more SP attempting to LUCKNOW, Sept 9: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today alleged that the Samajwadi Party .....more |
Delhi HC rejects Sharma’s bail plea NEW DELHI, Sept 9: The Delhi High Court today dismissed the bail petition of senior IPS officer Ravi Kant Sharma, prime suspect in the journalist Shivani Bhatnagar murder case, saying that the prosecution has collected sufficient "prima facie" evidence against him. Justice M A Khan also rejected Sharma’s lawyer Dinesh Mathur’s plea for three days protection to the accused for surrendering before the trial court. Rejecting Mathur’s oral request for 48 hours interim protection to Sharma against arrest, the court said he was free to move any nearest court for such a release. The court said the conduct of Sharma after issuance of arrest warrants by the trial court on August seven "showed that he is trying to abscond from investigation." "Denying investigating officers opportunity of custodial interrogation will certainly hamper the investigation in henious crimes which will not be in public interest," the court said. "Interrogation of petitioner armed with pre arrest protection regarding the peculiar circumstance will become a ritual if an accused was granted bail even when facing non-bailable arrest warrant. Referring to Sharma’s conduct, the court said sequence of events which took place after arrest of co-accused Shri Bhagwan, Satya Prakash and Pradeep Sharma showed that the petitioner had made himself "totally untracable." The court said he remained "elusive" and was probably "safe" wherever he was hiding. The court said the conduct of an accused "becomes material in such henious crimes. "He is untraceable despite disciplinary action and non bailable arrest warrant against him" the court said adding "he is a deemed absconder." Justice Khan said the courts would be "reluctant" to come to aid and rescue of such a person involved in henious crime. There was a strong possibilty of the accused not making himself available for the trial looking at his conduct, the court observed. (PTI) |
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Bollywood turning to urban, Westernised liberated youth NEW DELHI, Sept 9: Perhaps it is because of continual migration to cities, or increasing urbanisation, or just a case of following a trend. Indian and particularly Hindi cinema has definitely moved to portray the life style of the upper middle and rich classes of the cities, and the toils of the poor or rural folk which once dominated these films have gradually been sacrificed for better returns at the box office. This has been increasingly manifested in film after film over the past few years, and took greater roots with the success of the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Dil Chahata Hai’. Love stories like Sohail Khan’s ‘Maine Dil Tujhko Diya’, Kunal Kohli’s ‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge’, Sanjay Chhel’s ‘Kya Dil Ne Kaha’, and Sanjay Ghadvi’s ‘Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai’ family socials such as Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, Anupam Kher’s ‘Om Jai Jagadeesh’, David Dhawan’s ‘Yeh Hai Jalwa’ and Satish Kaushik’s ‘Badhai Ho Badhai’ or even thrillers like Abbas Mastan’s ‘Ajnabee’ and ‘Humraz’ have all been made to appeal to urban youthful audiences. Even a film like ‘Devdas’ which is supposed to be based in a small town had the urban effect in its glitz and gloss. If it is not the gloss, then foreign locations, computer graphics or peppy songs are used to appeal to the audiences, and so there are songs like ‘You ArM Sy sonia’, ‘Nikamma Kiya Is Dil Ne’, ‘Chori Chori’, and ‘Sharara Sharara’. And if all this fails, then there is an attempt to lift themes from Hollywood or foreign films. The increasing number of multiplexes in cities has also made it more attractive to release films in cities than in the interiors, and therefore themes have to be adapted for the urban youth. In a country where the bulk of the cine-going audience (more than 70 per cent) hails from the villages and interiors of the country, the increasing effort to woo the predominantly urban audience may seem somewhat surprising. But analysts say this increasing focus on wooing the ‘urban hip crowd’ follows the stupendous success of some recent films. Starting with Rajshri pictures ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, going on to the films of Yash Chopra, Yash Johar and their sons Aditya and Karan, and now Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Dil Chahata Hai’, the production of ‘Made for Urban Youth’ films has gained momentum. The coming months are likely to see the release of a number of films targeted primarily at the city audience like Hansal Mehta’s ‘Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai’, Anant Mahadevan’s ‘Dil Vil Pyar Vyar’, Rajat Mukherjee’s ‘Road’, Sanjay Gupta’s ‘Kaante’, Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Jhankar Beats’, Kailash Surendranath’s ‘Love You Hamesha’, Rahul Dholakia’s ‘Kehta Hai Dil Baar Baar’ and Manish Khandelwal’s ‘Marshal’. Apart from several films making more money overseas than within the country, and with an increasing number of Indian diaspora films being made overseas, it is becoming increasingly necessary to deal with subjects that appeal to the urban youth. Utpal Acharya of Columbia tristar, which distributed ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ in Delhi, told UNI, "right from the beginning, we were clear that a film like Gurinder Chaddha’s was basically targetted at the city audience, specially those in the 16 to 35 age group, who are likely to have a better understanding of the subject of the movie." The success of Mira Nair’s ‘Monsoon Wedding’ can also be attributed to this new marketing strategy. In recent months, films like ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’, ‘Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai’, ‘Om Jai Jagadeesh’, ‘Devdas’, and even ‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge’ and ‘Yaadein’ which failed within the country have proved to be winners in the overseas market. ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ became the second biggest success overseas after ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, and ‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge’ held a place among the UK top 15 for three consecutive weekends. Films like ‘Lagaan’ and ‘Dil Chahata Hai’ have also done well in the West Indies, African countries, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Mauritius. (UNI) |
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‘Business rules amendment takes back nothing from Delhi Govt’ NEW DELHI, Sept 9: In the midst of the brewing controversy over the Centre’s recent circular seen as clipping the powers of the Delhi Government, Lt Governor Vijai Kapoor today said amendment of transaction of business rules "takes back nothing" and in no way compromises the powers of the elected Government. "Powers of the popular institutions are not reduced in any way. If it is shown to me, I will be with the Chief Minister to seek the amendment’s reversal. The apprehensions are not well-founded," Mr Kapoor told a press conference. Insisting that there had been no legal advice to the contrary after he sought opinion from the Union Law Ministry and Delhi Law Secretary, the Lt Governor said he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on September 6 and also had conversations with her later. The August 29 circular of the Union Home Ministry made changes in rule 23 of the transaction of business of the Goverment of national capital territory of Delhi rules, making it mandatory for the Delhi Government to submit, among other things, matters on which the Lt Governor is required to make orders under any law or instrument in force. The other change in rule 55 (1) substituted the word "bill" with "legislative proposal". "There were serious lacunae in rule 23 as it existed prior to August 29," Mr Kapoor said while avoiding elaboration. "The change in rule 23 does not take give any additional powers to the Lt Governor who already had authority over law and order and land besides quasi-judicial functions and powers delegated by the Union Government. These are matters on which ministers of Delhi Government do not take decisions," he explained. The amendment in rule 55, Mr Kapoor said, was only aimed at facilitating the work of legislation. He clarified that only those legislative proposals of the Delhi Government would be reserved for the President which have a potential for repugnancy with an existing parliamentary law. "This is an original constitutional provision and all laws will not be sent to the president. The proposal of subordinate legislation (draft rules) will also not be sent to the Centre," Mr Kapoor said. "In fact, sending the legislative proposal instead of the bill is a better proposition and will expedite the legislative process. Legislative proposal is only in a skeleton form while the bill contains every details and clause by clause comments can be cumbersome," he added. The Sheila Dikshit Government is already up in arms against the circular and accused the BJP-led Government of clipping its powers with an eye on next year’s Assembly elections. The Congress Legislature Party has requisitioned a one-day special assembly session on September 11 to discuss the implications of the Centre’s moves. Ms Dikshit had also not ruled out going for snap polls or taking a legal recourse. On the LG’s clarifications, the Chief Minister refused to make any comments and said the Assembly session would chart out the course. The Lt Governor explained the July 25 missive of the Home Ministry on the definition of Delhi Government, saying it was "just a matter of constitutional purity and semantics". "It was done to remove confusion with the advice of the attorney general and soliticitor general and keeping in mind the definition of Delhi Government as given in 1998," he said. "Delhi is a union territory and the constitution only recognises the Central and State Governments. Delhi has been Government in the name of the administrator or Lt Governor appointed by the President," he said citing the nursing bill which was "erroneously" passed in the name of the Government of NCT of Delhi. Refusing to be drawn into any blame-game with the Delhi Government, Mr Kapoor, answering queries, said there has been not a single instance of "delay" at his level in disposing of files sent by the Delhi Government. He circulated a brief note listing the five cases of compensation for land acquisition, revision of transport fares, laying of CNG pipeline, Lajpat Nagar flyover and Wazirabad bridge to contest charges of delay, blamed on him by the Sheila Dikshit Government. "Differences of opinion is nothing unnatural, but resolution should be through consultation. My main job is coordination," he said. Refuting that he had strained relations with the city Government, the Lt Governor said,"in the past four and half years, there has been not a single instance where I have used my constitutional powers to refer a Government decision to the Centre." (UNI) |
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PSLV to lift off with an exclusive meteorological satellite CHENNAI, Sept 9: An improved version of PSLV, India’s workhorse satellite launch vehicle, is scheduled to lift off from Sriharikota, about 100 km from here on September 12, carrying 1060 kg metsat, an exclusive meteorological satellite, in yet another milestone mission of the Indian Space Odyssey. The PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) has undergone a series of major improvements in its seventh mission this time especially for carrying Metsat, the single highest payload it had ever carried, according to ISRO sources. Moreover PSLV-C4, taking to space on Thursday, will be injecting the satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)) for the first time so as to prove the versatility of PSLV to launch both polar and geostationary satellites. Metsat launch is also considered to be ISRO’s first major step toward cost cutting by using own launch vehicles for carrying single payloads to be placed in GTOs. India is scheduled to launch a series of similar satellites specifically for monitoring weather and oceanograph by 2006 of which at least three would be in GTO, according to the sources. Foreign agencies like Arianspace at present charges about 60 million USD per launch for multi-payload INSAT satellites. The last launch of PSLV was on October 22 last when it successfully launched three satellites- India’s Technology Experiment Satelllite (TES), German Satellite Bird and Belgian Satellite Proba in different orbits. The major changes made to PSLV, designed and developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvanthapuram, included the improvements brought about in the performance of the third stage solid propellant by optimising the motor case and propellant loading. Also the propellant in the fourth stage liquid propellant motor has been increased from two tonnes to 2.5 tonnes. Besides, PSLV-C4 employs a carbon composite payload adopter for securing substantial payload advantage, according to ISRO sources. Compared to the earlier six PSLV launches, the flight path of PSLV-C4 has been modified to inject the Metsat into a GTO of 250 perigee (nearest point to earth) and 36000 apogee (farthest point to earth). About 1251 seconds after lift off, Metsat will separate from the fourth stage of PSLV in the GTO. Metsat, the first exclusive meteorological satellite built by ISRO, will be a precursor to the future INSAT system that will have separate satellites for meteorology and telecommunication/broadcasting services which all had been combined together in the earlier INSAT system. The Meteorological payload on Metsat comprises A 3-band VHRR (Very High Resolution Radiometer) for providing imageries in visible, thermal Infra red and water vapour bands and a weather Data Relay Transponder (DRT). Metsat will relay the data to the meteorological data utilisation center at New Delhi, providing valuable support in the areas of cyclone warning dissemiantion services, meteorological data compilation and weather imaging on a continuous basis, ISRO sources said. Loaded with 560 kg of propellent, Metsat was developed by ISRO Satellite Center, Bangalore. The meteorological payloads were developed by Space Applications Center, Ahmedabad. The satellite has a solar array generating 550 watts of power. The array will be deployed immediately after its injection into GTO. The Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka will take control of Metsat for all post launch operations. Ground stations at Lake Cowichan (Canada), Fucino (Italy) and Beijing (China) will support MCF in monitoring the health of the satellite and its orbit raising operations. The satellite will be commissioned into service after the completion of orbit raising operations and positioning it in its designed orbital slot of 74 east longitute. PSLV-C4 launch is the first launch of ISRO after Shar, its main launch center at Sriharikotta Island was rechristened as Prof Satish Dhawan Space Center a few days ago. (PTI) |
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SP attempting to destabilise
BSP-BJP LUCKNOW, Sept 9: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today alleged that the Samajwadi Party (SP) was making attempts to destabilise her Government by "provoking" the BSP Muslim MLAs in the name of religion. "Some SP Mulsim Legislators have written letters to the Muslim MLAs of the BSP and raked up the issue of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani’s participation in the BSP’s proposed rally on September 28 next," she told newsmen here. Stating that SP’s attempts began from the day the coalition Government was installed in the state she said even during the confidence vote in the State Assembly in May last, SP leader Azam Khan had "targeted" 14 BSP MLAs from the Muslim Community. She also recalled that Khan went to the extent of saying that the Muslim community would not "forgive" their MLAs belonging to BSP for forming a Government with BJP support. The Muslim community, however, gave a befitting reply to the SP in the Baheri Assembly by-polls where the sitting SP Muslim MLA’s wife lost the BSP Muslim candidate, she claimed. Mayawati also referred to the remarks of Khan, who is also the leader of the opposition in the State Assembly and said the latter had made repeated attempts to provoke the BSP’s Muslim MLAs in the house. The SP leader had said in the Assembly that Advani’s participation in the bsp rally on September 28 assumed "significance" as the deadline given by the Supreme Court seeking reply of the Uttar Pradesh Government on the fresh notification on Ayodhya issue was also on September 28. Stating that the deadline, in fact was September 23 next, Mayawati said Khan’s remarks were aimed at "provoking" the BSP mlas of the Muslim community. She alleged that the SP stood exposed before the Muslims of the state as it was the same party which helped Sakshi Maharaj, who had claimed that he was among those who "demolished" the Babri Masjid and went on to become a Rajya Sabha member. "The SP had now joined hands with the former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, who is also one of the accused in the Ayodhya demolition case," Mayawati said. The Chief Minister said her party was of the firm opinion that the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue could be resolved either through the courts or mutual discussion. (PTI) PM greets people on Urs festival
of Khwaja AJMER, Sept 9: As the annual urs of famous Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti began here today, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee said the teachings of Sufis like Khwaja could help in ending violence and hatred across the world. Sufi saints like Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti are messengers of religious equality and national unity. "The message of tolerance and brotherhood propounded by these saints have as much relevance today as in the past. These teachings can guide the entire humanity to end violence and hatred across the world," Vajpayee said in his greetings on the 790th Urs of the saint. "I am joing the people across the country in celebrating annual Urs of Khwaja Moiniddin Chisti. People belonging to different religion have deep faith and belief in Khwaja Sahib because Sufi saints like him are messengers of religious equality and national unity", he said. Praying for the success of this world famous urs of the great Sufi saint, the Prime Minister also greeted foreigners visiting the Dargah of Moinuddin Chisti on the occasion. A floral Chadar was offered on the Prime Minister’s behalf at the Dargah as the fortnight long Urs festival began today with thousands of pilgrims across the country thronging to offer their prayers. About one thousand devotees, named Kalandars reached the Dargah last evening on foot from Delhi after covering the distance in twelve days. Some other groups of pilgrims carrying green flags in their hands reached on foot from various places in the country. (PTI) |
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