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Abhishek all set to CHANDIGARH, Nov 27: The year 2002 has been rather harsh on him on the career front. His two films sank like .....more Karnataka
security BANGALORE, Nov 27: In an intensified battle of wits, Karnataka Security ....more Special court’s observation against Rajiv challenged in HC NEW DELHI, Nov 27: A lawyers’ organisation named after late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi today moved the...more Headload
workers THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 27: Thousands of headload workers, protesting against the Kerala Government’s......more |
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PAC to consider CAG NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has taken up active consideration of the CAG findings on bunglings in arms purchases ........more No
proposal to phase NEW DELHI, Nov 27: The Government today said the safety of MiG 21 aircraft of Indian Air Force had never.....more Pak
High Commission NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Asserting that Pakistan was misusing territories of other .....more AIIMS hauled up by a Parliamentary Committee NEW DELHI, Nov 27: A Parliamentary Committee has hauled up the All India....more |
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New silver pedestal in Dakshineswar temple ........ ‘Ethics committee should be empowered to examine complaints’ ...... Crime
against women up, Delhi shows downward trend.......
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Abhishek all set to play big innings in ‘LoC’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 27: The year 2002 has been rather harsh on him on the career front. His two films sank like ‘Titanic’ at the turnstiles. Today, he is looking for reinvention to bring him back on the horizon of glory. Abhishek Bachchan needs a hit to revive his career and has too many hopes pinned on his forthcoming project, J P Dutta’s mammoth war saga ‘LoC’. Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Aby Baby, who was in the city for the shooting of ‘LoC’, said:" It does hurt when you put your heart and soul into a film and it does not work. But what he learned from his father, Amitab Bachchan, is coming to his help, "it is all part of the game, and I will keep working hard to make a mark in Bollywood. This is what I have learnt from my father". And he was all adulation for his parents parents. "All the adulation which I have got from the people is all because of my parents. Today, whatever I am, it is all because of my parents and their blessings." "People have too much expectations from me because of me being the son of Mr Amitabh Bachchan, and I will try my best to do him proud." Asked what kind of roles he would like to play in his forthcoming films, the ‘Refugee’ actor said," like my father, even I would like to play the role of an angry young man. While choosing roles, I follow my heart and do not go after the script or the director but prefer to see what kind of role I have." Describing his role in ‘LoC’, he said, "I am playing the role of Capt Vikram Batra, hero of the Kargil conflict, and I think that itself is self-explanatory." Abhishek two films this year ‘Haa Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya Hain’ opposite Karisma Kapoor and Anupam Kher’s directorial venture ‘Om Jai Jagdish’ bombed at the box office. On his work experiences with J P Dutta with whom he also worked in his debut film ‘Refugee’, the Chhota Bachchan said, "working with Mr Dutta has always been an enriching experience. It is like home a production where you do not have to do much because Mr Dutta himself takes pains to make a film work." When asked the inevitable question whether Karisma Kapoor, with whom his four-year-long relationship would culminate into marriage, would work in films after marriage... Pat came a reply, "it is for ‘Lolo’ to decide whether she wants to continue to work or not, and it will be entirely her decision." The date of the D-day? the junior Bachchan smiled and replied, "we have not fixed it up as yet." Abhi’s other forthcoming films, besides ‘LoC’, are —‘Zameen’ with Ajay Devgan, ‘Mumbai Se Aya Mera Dost’, Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon’ opposite Kareena Kapoor, Rohan Sippy’s ‘Kuch Na Kaho’ and Boney Kapoor’s ‘Run’. "These days I am being more selective about the roles I play. But I would like to try my hand at varied roles and I think one has to move on despite failures." ‘LoC’ has a huge starcast and working with all the biggies of tinselville like Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty and Manoj Bajpayee has been a learning experience," he added. With the kind of grit and determination Abhishek Bachchan has, Bollywood Pundits hope that his long search for an oasis in the desert would soon come to an end when ‘LoC’ hit the marquee next summer. (UNI) |
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Karnataka security adviser threatens to sue ex-DGP BANGALORE, Nov 27: In an intensified battle of wits, Karnataka Security Adviser T Srinivasulu today threatened to sue former DGP C Dinakar for making "defamatory" charges against him in the latter’s controversial book which claimed that ransom was paid to secure the release of Kannada thespian Rajkumar from the clutches of Veerappan. "I am considering to move a court. It is being legally examined how defamatory the contents (in the book) are", Srinivasulu told reporters, as he launched an attack on Dinakar for levelling a spate of charges against him, including blaming him for association with "extremists". Dinakar is at the vortex of a controversy following his book "Veerappan’s prize catch: Rajkumar", in which he alleged payment of Rs 20 crore as ransom to get release of Rajkumar from fugitive Veerappan two years ago. Srinivasulu dismissed as "hearsay" the allegation of ransom payment. "Either the receiver (of the ransom) has to tell it or the giver. The giver has already denied it. We cannot say about the receiver. In the absence of it, whatever comes is a hearsay. And it (the charge) coming from Dinakar, it is much worse (than hearsay)". Saying that Dinakar has mentioned in his book about his association with Tamil nationalist movement leader P Nedumaran and "extremists", he said he had known Nedumaran for a long time since his days in Congress and was his friend, though ideology wise they were pals apart. He said during the Rajkumar kidnap crisis, he and others under the aegis of Rainbow Forum, met Nedumaran thrice as part of a private effort t "K`cure the release of the film actor. "As an intelligence officer, I have several contacts and sources in some of the extremist outfits. How intelligence works is alien to the knowledge of C Dinakar. I have always used my knowledge of such organisations to the benefit of the state and the country", Srinivasulu said. Dinakar, he said, had claimed that the ransom was paid by the Chief Minister and the money was carried by his son-in-law V C Siddartha and Inspector General of Police T Jayaprakash, Rajkumar’s wife Parvathamma, and others on various occasions. "I would not like to comment on such sensitive issues because Dinakar does not know the definition of truth. His way of functioning has always been one of levelling baseless allegations against every individual so that in contrast he would like to pass off as Mr clean", Srinivasulu said. "I am not a Naxalite", Srinivasulu said, replying to another allegation made against him by Dinakar for his alleged association with Naxalites. He said he appreciated that Naxalites who were misguided due to the present social structure and other factors had no choice but to be so but "I hold no brief for Naxalites". Srinivasulu, who said he was responding to Dinakar’s charges in his personal capacity and not as security adviser, said the genesis of hostility of Dinakar towards him was because of his appointment as DGP. Srinivasulu was the DGP before Dinakar took over. (PTI) |
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Special court’s observation against Rajiv challenged in HC NEW DELHI, Nov 27: A lawyers’ organisation named after late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi today moved the Delhi High Court for quashing of certain observations by a special court here against the former Premier in the order for framing charges in the Rs 64 crore Bofors pay off case against Europe-based Hinduja brothers. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice A K Sikri, posted the hearing for December nine after CBI counsel A K Dutt submitted that the three Hinduja brothers have filed writ petitions for quashing of the CBI chargesheet before the court, which would be taken up for hearing on Nov 29. The special judge in his order had observed that setting up of the joint parliamentary committee by the Rajiv Gandhi Government to probe the bofors scandal in 1987 was part of a "massive cover-up" exercise to quell the political storm caused by the exposure of the scam. Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lawyers’ Forum (RGMLF), in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by its president advocate Vijay Kumar Shukla, alleged that the observations made by special judge Prem Kumar in his 176-page order against Rajiv Gandhi "tantamounts to a verdict of found guilty, since he is no more to rebut and defend himself." The CBI had placed Rajiv’s name in the column-two of the first chargesheet in the Bofors case because he could not be sent for trial as he is no more. While making the "weird observations" against the former Prime Minister, "the learned judge has virtually acted in a manner as if he was vested with the powers of an ex-parte posthumous trial" of a dead person, the PIL alleged. Seeking an order for expunging the observations, the RGMLF said "the special judge ought not to have made them against Rajiv Gandhi because the high court in its order of November 23, 1999, had held him as innocent and not guilty". It said the high court made the observation about the "innocence" of Gandhi while disposing of a petition filed by Rajiv Gandhi Ekta Samiti in 1999 challenging the inclusion of his name in column-two of the chargehseet, the PIL said. Quoting from that order, it said the single judge who had decided the matter then had observed that "bearing in mind the basic principles of criminal jurisprudence, this court can only observe that in the given situation Rajiv Gandhi is entitled to the benefit of the legal presumption that he is innocent and not guilty" because he is not alive. The special court in its order on framing of charges had said that the purpose of setting up of the JPC "seems to be to quell the political storm at that time and not to arrive at the whole truth....Constitution of the JPC and the manner in which enquiry was conducted and its report seem to be part of the massive cover-up exercise after the exposure of the scam by the media." The observation was made by the trial court rejecting the the plea of the Hinduja brothers - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - to take into account the findings of the JPC and discharge them in the case. The JPC had concluded that there was no "irregularities and corruption" in the Rs 1,472 crore bofors gun deal. The trial court declined to consider Hindujas’ request to rely upon the report on the ground that further material has been collected by CBI in the case after the JPC findings. (PTI) |
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Pak High Commission in Dhaka is ISI nerve centre: Sinha NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Asserting that Pakistan was misusing territories of other countries for activities inimical to Indian interests, Government today said Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka had become the "nerve centre" of ISI activities in promoting terrorism and insurgency in India. "Some Al Qaeda elements have taken shelter in Bangladesh .... Though foreign media has also reported several such instances, our own sources have also confirmed many of these reports," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told Lok Sabha while replying to a short notice question. Large number of Madrassas have sprung up along the Indo-Bangla border, he said, adding major insurgent groups have established training camps in different parts of Bangladesh. Stating that New Delhi had taken up the issue with Bangladesh Government from time to time, Sinha said the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka had conveyed India’s "strong concern over shelter being obtained on Bangladesh territory by people acting inimical to India’s interests". He said the Bangladesh Government had assured "us" that it would not allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to Indian interests. "The Bangladesh Foreign Minister intimated that instructions have been issued not to allow presence of Indian insurgents or their free movement across the border", the minister said. India had informed the world community, including the United States, about these activities of Pakistan and has "succeeded in convincing" them in this regard, Sinha told Shyama Singh (Congress) who raised the issue. As a result, several countries have made statements holding Pakistan responsible for such anti-India activities and to pressure Islamabad to desist from them. Despite commitments from President Pervez Musharraf to end cross-border infiltration on a permanent basis and not to allow Pakistani territory to be used for terrorism anywhere in the world or any organisation there to indulge in terrorism in the name of Kashmir, "there is no evidence of any firm attempts being made to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan", Sinha said. He said Islamabad had established "an elaborate infrastructure for recruitment, indoctrists on its territories and territories under its control". This included launching stations, communication centres and training camps. Replying to a question by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee about counterfeit currency in parts of North Bengal and the northeast, the minister said drug smuggling and fake currency were "favourite instruments" of terrorists. Reserve Bank of India and other concerned agencies were aware of the problem and were taking steps to check these activities, Sinha added. (PTI) |
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AIIMS hauled up by a Parliamentary Committee NEW DELHI, Nov 27: A Parliamentary Committee has hauled up the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for "inordinate" delay in submitting the annual report of the institute to the Health Ministry and asked it to initiate urgent steps to correct the scenario. The annual report for the years 1997-98 and 1998-99 were sent to the ministry after 11 months and 16 months respectively after the expiry of the stipulated time before which they were required to be laid on the table of the House, the committee on papers laid on the table said in a report. The information for the year 1999-2000 was collected from the various departments of AIIMS by January 2002, after about two years, the committee said. Asking AIIMS to take "urgent steps" to ensure that the compilation of information from the various departments is not delayed, the committee advised the institute to undertake proper computerisation so that the information is compiled on time. The committee also expressed its displeasure with the delay in completion of the audit process of the institute’s accounts and asked the Health Ministry to take measures to streamline the auditing process. The institute is required to furnish to the Central Government annually the accounts of institute as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India together with the audit report and the annual report respectively. The Central Government lays down these reports before both the Houses of Parliament. The annual reports and the audited accounts of the AIIMS should be laid on the table of the House within nine months of the closure of the accounts. Since the annual accounts of the AIIMS close on the 31st March every year, the Health Ministry is required to lay the annual reports and the audited accounts of AIIMS by 31st December every year. The committee also observed that though the ministry was granted extension of time for laying the papers of AIIMS for the year 1998-99 on three different occasions, it always failed to lay the papers even within the extended time. It directed the ministry that in case of a likely delay in laying the papers of AIIMS within the stipulated period, it (the ministry) should approach the committee sufficiently in advance for seeking extension of time. Once the extension had been granted, the ministry and the institute should work in close coordination with each other to ensure that the papers are laid within the extended period. Taking note of the difference in the reasons cited by the Health Ministry and the AIIMS director for the delay in submitting the annual report, the committee said that ministry should make "consistently accurate and precise" statements in the paper laid on the table. Stry attributed the delay in submitting the annual report for 1998-99 to "administrative problems", AIIMS Director said it was due to the "work pressure in AIIMS." (PTI) New silver pedestal in Dakshineswar temple DAKSHINESWAR, WEST BENGAL, Nov 27: A silver coated brass pedestal will replace the one-and-a-half-century old wooden pedestal of goddess Bhabatarini (Kali) at the famous Dakshineshwar Kali temple, temple sources said. The present board of trustees has already made a replica of the old pedestal at Rs 12 lakh that would replace it with due solemnity and Vedic rituals, sources said yesterday. The date for the ceremony was yet to be decided, sources said. A new pedestal was necessitated because of the deteriorating wooden structure and its damaged silver petals. The age old silver coating of the structure had also corroded, sources added. The pedestal, generally called the throne of the goddess, has been assembled from various parts, sources said. The existing one would be preserved by the board at the temple premises as was done in the case of the belongings used by Sri Rama Krishna Paramhansa and Sarada Devi, wife of the former, at the temple complex. The temple was constructed on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi (Ganges) here by Rani Rashmoni of Jan Bazar in Kolkata and is associated with 19th century religious leader Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansadev. The idol of Goddess Kali in the name of Maa Bhabatarini was installed in the third week of May 1856 at the cost of Rs 9 lakh. The temple was built in ten years’ time after the Rani while on her way to Varanasi in 1844 got the direction of the Goddess in her dream to install her on the eastern bank of the Ganges at Dakshineswar. (UNI) ‘Ethics committee should be empowered to examine complaints’ NEW DELHI, Nov 27: The committee on ethics headed by former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar has stressed the need for maintaining ethical behaviour by members of the Lok Sabha in and outside the House saying it is necessary in the interest of other democratic institutions and the public. The committee, in its second report presented to the House by Mr V M Sudheeran (Cong), recommends incorporating in the rules and procedures of business in the Lok Sabha’ rules a committee on ethics to oversee moral and ethical conduct of the members. The committee should be empowered to examine complaints relating to unethical conduct by a member connected with his or her Parliamentary duties and make recommendations to deal with the member if he or she is found guilty. Rules should be framed by the proposed committee to specify unethical behaviour or conduct by the members and action to be taken for misdemeanour. The committee should be treated at par with the privilege committee constituted by the Lok Sabha, the report says. The committee after taking note of the fact that there is no provision in the rules of procedure for making complaints relating to unethical conduct of a member recommends that appropriate rules be incorporated. It recommends that the code of conduct for members as appended to the resolution, which was unanimously adopted at the conference of presiding officers and chief ministers, be suitably incorporated in the rules of procedure. It is the considered view of the committee that a member’s probity in public life is the fundamental precept upon which rests the credibility of a parliamentary democracy. The committee feels that there is an urgent need of realisation that unruly behaviour by members does not go down well with the general public, and hence an atmosphere has to be created in which orderly behavour by member pays in the long run, the reports says. The committee agrees in principle with the proposals made by a member of the committee for holding a seminar on ‘an analysis on the prresent day functioning of Parliament - an introspection’ and other follow up and interactive seminars. (UNI) Crime against women up, Delhi shows downward trend NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Even as crime against women has witnessed an increasing trend in the country, Delhi registered a downward swing despite a spate of rapes and molestation cases recently, according to Government figures presented in Parliament today. Minister of State for Home I D Swami told the Rajya Sabha that analysis of incidence of sexual harassment and total crime against women during 1998-2000 in all States, Union Territories and the four metropolitan cities shows that the cases increased by 10 per cent in 1999 over 1998 and 24.5 per cent in 2000 over 1999 in the country. Among the metros, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai registered a steep increase in cases of assault against women, while in Delhi the cases came down during the two years. Mr Swami said Mumbai recorded an increase of 63.6 per cent in 1999 over 1998 and 263.9 per cent in 2000 over 1999, while Kolkata registered an increase of 27.3 per cent in 1999 over 1998 and 64.3 in 2000 over 1999. Chennai recorded 49 cases of sexual harassment in 2000 against zero in 1999 and 1998. The national capital recorded a decrease of 18.2 per cent in 1999 over 1998 and 12.7 per cent in 2000 over 1999. However, the overall crime rate of Delhi is higher than the other metropolitan cities in the country. Among the 23 major cities of the country for which data was compiled, Delhi ranks seventh in crimes registered under Indian Penal Code after Indore, Bhopal, Jaipur, Bangalore, Nagpur and Patna. About efforts of the Delhi Police in checking cases of rape and crime against women, the minister said Delhi Police is conducting gender sensitisation courses in units and districts. A central crime against women cell has been set up under an Additional Commissioner of Police and similar cells have been set up at district level as well. A sizeable number of women staff has been posted in these cells and were briefed regularly to take prompt and effective action. Besides, extra deployment has been made near girls and women educational institutions to keep a watch on suspicious persons and to give a sense of security to the women. Mr Swami said as part of preventive measures to neutralise active criminals, more than 300 dispirited criminals having potential to strike have been identified and surveillance was being organised on their activities. (UNI) |
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