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Regional peace NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Contradicting conventional wisdom that regional peace would lead to immediate economic .....more Grand
old lady Vikrant MUMBAI, Dec 13: The decomissioned aircraft-carrier Vikrant may not end up in a scrap yard with the Centre and ...more Nomination to RS great honour: Hema Malini AURANGABAD, Dec 13: Noted film actress Hema Malini today said that her recent ...more PHDCCI
for developing SHIMLA, Dec 13: The PHD, Chamber of Comerce and Industry (PHDCCI) called for grant of special fund ...more |
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Consolidation new KOLKATA, Dec 13: The erosion of regulatory barriers between the banking, finance and ...more Badal’s
wife released ROPAR, Dec 13: A day after former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s wife Surinder Kaur was granted ...more CM
asks Centre to CHENNAI, Dec 13: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked the Centre to ‘immediately’ request the .....more BJP
national executive HYDERABAD, Dec 13: Upbeat over the recent electoral victories, BJP will hold its ......more |
Regional peace dividend may be minimal in medium term: Ambani NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Contradicting conventional wisdom that regional peace would lead to immediate economic gains for the exchequer, Reliance group vice chairman Anil Ambani today asserted that financial changes due to increased regional security could be minimal in the medium term. Speaking at ‘peace dividend’ conference organised here by Hindustan Times, Ambani said conventional wisdom could be proved wrong for three reasons including the fact that the country’s defence budget was already modest with limited scope for further contraction. "At less than 3 per cet of GDP there isn’t much of a squeeze that can be exerted on it. While pensions and salaries will continue to be a major component of this expenditure, the desperate need for defence modernisation will mean that India will have to find resources for defence even if peace with Pakistan is assured," Ambani said. Ambani pointed out that India’s security concerns transcend Pakistan and in addressing these the country would have to spend even more on higher cost of modern technology. Further, apart from regular defence expenditure, India would have to continue to spend on internal security and on modernising the response to terrorism, he said, adding that an environment of peace and cooperation could substantially alter investor sentiment. Ambani urged SAARC leaders to agree to a pact aimed at reducing defence expenditure and earmarking resources for the social sector. Cutting military spending by five per cent annually could generate a peace dividend of around five billion US dollars, enough to finance most of the social services, he said. He went on to argue that peace in south Asia would stimulate unprecedented improvement in standards and quality of life of a fifth of the humanity. "South Asia has the potential to become the foodgrain basket of the world. It offers huge oppurtunity for renumerative investments in agriculture and agro-processing industries. South Asia has the potential to become a major energy hub for this part of the world," he said. Ambani identified universal primary education, basic healthcare and safe drinking water as priority areas. Pointing to the reconstruction of post war Europe, Ambani said south Asia must work towards peace or face the prospect of sliding into abyss with the potential of reducing millions of people to specks of radioactive dust. Ambani discounted fears that integration of south Asian markets could create huge trade surpluses, arguing that a part of such surpluses could be recycled as investments. "There is reasonable scope to expand Indian investments in countries where there are enough raw materials, skilled labour and markets", he said, pointing to export of gas from Bangladesh. "Regional growth acceleration has positive externalities for all, since investors at home and abroad will begin to take a more benign view of south Asia as a whole", he added. (PTI) |
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Grand old lady Vikrant may finally become maritime museum MUMBAI, Dec 13: The decomissioned aircraft-carrier Vikrant may not end up in a scrap yard with the Centre and State deciding to jointly fund its conversion into a full-fledged maritime heritage museum. The grand old lady of Indian Navy, which was decommissioned on January 31, 1997 had faced a rough weather, virtually entering the jaws of a scrapyard, as the Maharashtra Government inspite of its promise could not convert her into a full-fledged museum largely due to financial constraints. The Western Naval Command (WNC), the sword arm of the Indian Navy, had converted her in to a floating museum pending the Maharashtra Government’s decision to permanently berth her and convert her into a museum-cum-helipad. Addressing a news conference here, BJP member of Parliament, Kirit Somaiya, said that the Defence Ministry will contribute all the expenses of converting the ship into a museum and docking her at a permanent place, while the State Government would provide the necessary infrastructure which includes approach roads to the oyster rock site off the Mumbai harbour, the proposed final berth for Vikrant . While the cash-strapped Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) Government has agreed to shell out Rs 15 crore towards the infrastructure development, Defence Minister George Fernandes has agreed to provide Rs 42 crore for the purpose, Mr Somaiya said. Mr Somaiya said that the decision was taken Thursday night at a meeting convened by Mr Fernandes at New Delhi, attended by State Chief Secretary Ajit Nimbalkar, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA Arun Kumar Mago, Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Arun Prakash, Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad and Minister of State for Tourism Bhavna Chilakia. According to Mr Somaiya, a joint trust comprising representatives of the navy, defence, tourism, State Government, other agencies and experts will be formed to monitor the project. The Tourism Ministry, according to him, will promote ‘Vikrant’ as a "patriotic tourism" project. He said that the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) had prepared a proposal for the project and the annual expenditure of operation, running and maintenance will be over Rs 4.5 crore while the receipt from sale of tickets, souvenirs and shops was expected to be over Rs 5.21 crore. He said that the commercial use of the project will be decided after the second phase of the project. The modalities will be worked out before January 26. The proposal to convert her into a museum was mooted by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, who is now the Lok Sabha Speaker. However, the Navy had decided to auction it twice in 1999 and 2000, but Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray intervened and met Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, then a Vice-Admiral and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command and halted it. The Centre also sanctioned some funds to Shiv Sena-BJP alliance Government headed by Narayan Rane, in 1999 for her upkeep. When the Congress-NCP Democratic Front (DF) Government came to power, there was stiff opposition from the fisherfolk towards the project, however, the Deputy Chief Minister had held a series of meetings with them and resolved the matter. During this time, the then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, during an official visit to USA, had visited a museum aboard a carrier, and expressed confidence that the museum could be built on ‘Vikrant’. However, when Sushilkumar Shinde took over the reins of the state, he hurled the ball back into the BJP-led Central Government’s Court. The 20,000-tonne aircraft carrier Vikrant played a glorious role during the Indo-Pak war in 1971 that led to the liberation of Bangladesh, liberation of Goa in 1962 and the Kutch operations in 1965. ‘Vikrant’ which was formerly the royal navy ship ‘HMS Hercules,’ joined the Indian Navy in the sixties. Earlier seahawks used to fly from aboard the carrier, but in the eighties the flight deck was redesigned and made adaptable to jumpjet seaharriers. (UNI) |
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Nomination to RS great honour: Hema Malini AURANGABAD, Dec 13: Noted film actress Hema Malini today said that her recent nomination to the Rajya Sabha was a great honour and she would utilise this opportunity to work for children and women. The "Dream Girl" of the Bollywood who is here to perform her famous Durga ballet on the inaugural day of the three-day long Ellora-Aurangabad festival, said at a press conference that she is very new in the Rajya Sabha and presently studying the House. It will take at least a couple of months to understand everything, she said. "Once I understand the House proceedings, you will see a "Basanti" in me in the House," quipped the actress who had performed a role of a chatty ‘Tangewali’ in the box-office hit "Sholay". The Rajya Sabha member further said she would prefer to work for the children and women. According to her, nomination to Rajya Sabha was a great honour for any individual and she had accepted it very happily. The noted danseuse said that she would continue to give dance performances even though she has now entered politics. "I found the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) good and therefore I have preferred to associate with them," she said in reply to a question. While replying to another question, Hema Malini categorically ruled out contesting the Lok Sabha elections. She said she was content to be a Rajya Sabha member and had no interest in contesting the Lok Sabha elections. The actress also said she did not intend to be a director and pointed out that film direction was a more difficult task than acting. However, Ms Malini disclosed that she is working on a film script, in which her daughter Esha would be the lead actress. "The script is almost ready and the next process will be completed soon," she said. The versatile actress who marked her return to acting by starring opposite Amitabh Bachchan in "Baghban", said that she would try attend the Rajya Sabha regularly, but sometimes she might not be able to do so due to her other engagements. Ms Malini, who will be performing her famous Durga ballet along with her troupe later in the evening at the ‘Soneri Mahal’, the venue of the three-day long festival here, thanked the festival committee for offering an opportunity to perform at the historic city of Aurangabad. Such festivals certainly attract tourists and promote tourism, and need to be organised frequently, she said. (UNI) |
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CM asks Centre to come to rescue of youth stranded in Malaysia CHENNAI, Dec 13: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked the Centre to ‘immediately’ request the Malaysian Government to provide relief to 16 Tamil and Telugu youths who are in a state of "despair and helplessness" in that country. In a letter to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, she said she had received distressing information about the plight of the youths who had gone to Malaysia in search of employment. "These youths are in a state of acute distress with no employment, no salary and not even the wherewithal to fund or find their meals. They are reportedly staying in a temple for want of accommodation", she said in the letter, a copy of which was released to the press here. "I request you to ask the Indian High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur to immediately take up the matter with the Government of Malaysia to provide immediate relief to these Tamil and Telugu youths and to prevail upon their employers to pay them their salaries and other remuneration as is rightfully due to them", she said. She alleged that the youths were being harassed by the local immigration authorities even after expressing their desire to return to India. Jayalalithaa said they had informed her that despite complaining to the Indian High Commission in Malaysia their grievances had not been redressed and that they were now in a state of despair and helplessness. Jayalalithaa expressed confidence that Vajpayee and Sinha would agree that the "pathetic plight" of the youths, who had gone there to eke out a livelihood required immediate remedial action by the Centre. She said their travel documents, including passports and visas had been impounded although their plight had been highlighted in the Malaysian press. The Chief Minister said she was greatly concerned by the increasing number of incidents of exploitation of young workers from Tamil Nadu and other states, by fake travel agents, who recruit men to work in countries like Malaysia, Singapore and the Maldives. The Chief Ninister had earlier suggested in a letter written on December two that the Centre, through the External Affairs Ministry, should take immediate and effective action to check the bonafides of travel agencies recruiting workers on a large scale for employment abroad, she said. This would ensure that the interests of youth from the country, seeking employment abroad, were not jeopardized. She said she had also suggested putting into place a suitable mechanism to screen such agencies and curb their activities. "There is an urgent need to find a long term solution to this vexatious problem", she said. Jayalalithaa also requested that the High Commission in Malaysia be directed to arrange return of travel documents and passports of the youths and to take urgent steps for their repatriation to the country. (PTI) |
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BJP national executive meet in Hyderabad on Jan 18-19 HYDERABAD, Dec 13: Upbeat over the recent electoral victories, BJP will hold its national executive meeting here on January 18-19 to chalk out the strategy for securing 300 seats and two-thirds majority for the NDA in the Lok Sabha polls. The meeting would discuss an action plan to fine-tune its ‘mission 2004’ aimed at securing 300 Lok Sabha seats on its own and a two-third majority for the NDA, party president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here today. Discounting speculation that BJP might opt for early Lok Sabha polls to capitalise on the ‘feel good’ factor in the wake of its sterling performance in the recent round of assembly polls, Naidu said "there is no proposal before the party to advance elections". He said the ‘present mood’ in the country was that NDA should come back to power under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and take the nation forward on the path of rapid development. Though BJP was totally committed to Hindutva which is the ‘Soul of India’, it would not be made a poll issue, Naidu said. "Development and performance will continue to be our poll plank," the BJP president said. Terming as ‘unfortunate’ media speculation over advancing of Lok Sabha polls, Naidu said the BJP central leadership had only asked its cadre to "prepare for polls from now onwards as only 250 days are left for the elections". Ruling out making Hindutva its poll plank, the BJP chief said "Hindutva is the soul of India and lifeline of BJP. There is no question of compromise on our core ideology. But it cannot be a poll issue." Asserting that development would continue to be the focus of BJP’s campaign, he recalled that the recent assembly elections were fought on developmental issues. Hitting out at congress for its "negative and confrontationist politics", he said the party had not learnt any lessons from its electoral drubbing in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Dubbing as "absurd and insult to democracy" the Congress charge that BJP had won elections with money power, Naidu said "this shows that Congress has not given up its negativism which was its undoing in the recent elections". The BJP president said his party was comfortable with all the NDA partners and would like to continue the alliance in the next elections. (PTI) pri gen nat .Hyderaba bom4 ld naidu 3 last (reopens bom3) "after making operation 2003 successful, our goal now is to realise mission 2004. Our campaign theme is going to be `shaktishali bharat ke liye shaktishali bjp’ (for strong nation, strong bjp)", naidu said. Asked whether his party would claim more seats from its ally tdp in the coming elections in andhra pradesh, he replied in affirmative and said "i would not like to quantify it. Naturally, any party would like to contest more seats. We are yet to discuss about it". As part of electoral alliance, the bjp had contested 24 seats and won 12 of them in the 1999 assembly polls. The bjp president did not agree with a questioner that anti-incumbency factor could work against the chandrababu naidu government. "Development is the key issue. Anyday, tdp government is better than previous congress regimes in terms of development," he said. On telangana statehood issue, naidu said bjp central leadership was yet to discuss the issue. Though bjp was the first to adopt a resolution favouring separate telangana state in the run-up to the 1999 assembly elections, it has since put the issue on the backburner in return for tdp’s continued support to the central coalition. Bjp’s official position is that since telangana statehood is not part of nda agenda, it cannot take up the issue at this juncture. (PTI). Police moves SC against acquittal of Geelani, Afsan NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Delhi Police today filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order acquitting lecturer S A R Geelani and woman accused Afsan Guru in the Parliament attack case. Timing the appeal to coincide with the second anniversary of the attack on Parliament, the voluminous appeal filed through counsel Mukta Gupta said that the High Court erred in acqutting Geelani who was sentenced to death by the trial Court for his role in the conspiracy by militants to storm the symbol of Indian democracy. The High Court on October 29 had acquitted two of the Parliament attack case convicts - Delhi university lecturer Geelani and a woman Afsan Guru - by absolving them of all charges, but confirmed the death sentence imposed by the lower Court on Jaish-e-Mohammed militants Mohd Afzal and Shaukat Hussain Guru. The police in its special leave petition said that the High Court failed to take into account the relevant evidence bringing out the clear involvement of Geelani and the wife of convicted militant Shaukat in the conspiracy. The High Court had taken note of the fact that Geelani had not given confessional statement under POTA and his telephonic conversation with other two accused and his brother was not by itself sufficient to draw an inference of his involvement in the conspiracy to attack Parliament on December 13, 2001. (PTI) Urmila hogs media attention in Pakistan, pitches for peace NEW DELHI, Dec 13: It was a a scene similar to one witnessed in a locality in Delhi, Mumbai or, for that matter, any Indian city where the very sight of a Bollywood star draws huge crowds of star-struck people. But for a change, this was a city in neighbouring Pakistan drawing hordes of star-struck common people, as well as mediapersons, to the scene of a shooting of a music video. The star attraction was none other then Bollywood Glamour Girl’, Urmila Matondkar, who after receiving rave reviews for her performance in Chandra Prakash Dwivedi s "Pinjar", a major part of which was shot in Pakistan, seems to have become a strong votary for furthering good relations between India and Pakistan. Urmila, who earlier this year, broke into tears during the music release of ‘Pinjar’, was in the Pakistani city of Lahore to shoot for moving closer , a music video for Pakistani band fuzon being produced by serendip productions and funded by the United Nations development programme. Urmila s three-day visit was the focus of unprecedented media attention in Pakistan, comparable only to the mega-coverage witnessed during the India-Pakistan summit in Agra two years ago, newspaper reports say. "Between filming for a documentary series ‘moving closer’ and the frenzied adulation of cinegoers, Matondkar’s hosts found time to organise a press meet in a local hotel," Dawn reported. "The press conference turned out to be a media Jamboree, as many were interested only in flashing cameras and catching a glimpse of bollywood’s petite Diva. "The entire purpose of the press conference, which was to highlight the cooperation between India and Pakistan through media relations, was challenged by the unruliness of the local press," the daily said. "Not caring about the impression they might leave on the guest, representatives of the local press swooned at Urmila’s feet when India’s silver screen Goddess entered the conference hall," Dawn said. "The last time such a large number of photographers and reporters had assembled was at the Musharraf-Vajpayee summit in Agra in 2000," the newspaper said. "It seemed everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the Indian beauty. She was hard to miss in her flower-studded pink shalwar kameez with matching duppatta. Several locals stood on their rooftops watching the video shoot of the documentary-cum-music video, being held at the rooftop of Cuckoo’s Cafi, the ‘Daily Times’ reported. Urmila, too, basked in the warm Lahori reception. "I have been all over the world but the reception I have got here in Lahore is something else," she told Daily Times. "I have heard a lot about Lahore and its rich cultural heritage. The city really lives up to its reputation." Expressing delight over finally being in Lahore’, a city she has wanted to see for a long time, Urmila said, "it was a great feeling to cross the border. When I got to Wagah I was so happy. It s a feeling I can t really put into words." Urmila said she had come here with a message of peace, one warmly received by Lahoris. It was time for more positive interactions between Indians and Pakistanis, particularly in the arts, with exchanges of actors and musicians. She hoped to attend a Pakistan-India peace forum in Karachi, but hadn’t received her visa for Karachi yet. Urmila said the idea of working on "moving closer" was natural after she starred in Pinjer, a movie based on the novel by Amrita Pritim. "I am sure people here will love Amrita jee as much as people in India," she said. The movie exposed her to certain realities of life unusual for other Indian movies. Asked if she thought other Bollywood stars were interested in coming to do some work in Pakistan, she said she could not say. "I can say that I am here to support greater interaction between India and Pakistan," she said. Band manager Sania saeed told Daily Times that moving closer, "really a documentary-cum-video", was about common music, film and fashion themes in India and Pakistan. The concept for the video was conceived earlier this year. Two filmmakers are working on the project, Saqib Malik from Pakistan and Prelad from India. The video is directed by Dr Farooq Baig. It is unlikely to be released before February, she said. Urmila’s visit to Lahore, coinciding with Mahesh Bhatt’s Zakhm and Pooja Bhatt’s paap being invited to participate in the three-day Karachi film festival, from December 13, could be seen as another step in the direction of greater cultural contacts between the two countries in recent months. (UNI) Badal urges Governor to convene special session of Punjab assembly ROPAR, Dec 13: Reiterating his demand for a special assembly session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said his party has sent a written request to Punjab Governor Justice (retd) O P Verma to convene the session to end the uncertainty triggered by the crisis in the Congress Legislature Party(CLP). Talking to media persons after appearing in a Court here in a corruption case, Mr Badal said the written request along with a resolution to this effect passed by the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) Political Affairs Committee(PAC) yesterday was sent to the Governor today. ‘’ it is the constitutional responsibility of the Governor to see if the Government of the day enjoys majority’s support or not,’’ Mr Badal added. He said a special session of the assembly had become imperative in view of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s own admission that he enjoyed the support of 40 MLAs of the party. The chief minister, on the other hand yesterday while accepting Mr Badal’s challenge, had said he was ready for a trial of strength on the floor of the House, claiming he has the majority’s support in the House. Offering a comment on the possibility of change of CLP leader, Mr Badal said: " We are closely watching the situation." The SAD president reiterated his demand for a CBI probe into charges of corruption levelled against the Chief Minister by her ministerial colleague Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who is spearheading the Congress’ dissidents campaign against Capt Singh since Monday. Asked if he had any suggestions for AICC president Sonia Gandhi to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Punjab Congress, Mr Badal quipped, ‘’ she herself is responsible for it.’’ (UNI) Building developed India full of challenges: Shekhawat CHANDIGARH, Dec 13: Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today said the task of building a developed India would be full of challenges and called for taking up in tandem the twin issues of poverty alleviation and fast track development. Addressing the 53rd annual convocation of the Punjab University here, he said "today, forces of liberalisation and globalisation are deeply impacting our social sphere, values and feelings. In this onslaught we need to safeguard our roots and inheritance." "I do not want my house to be walled on all sides and my windows stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any," Shekhawati said, quoting Mahatma Gandhi. There were many challenges in the way of development, he said. "We have to address the problems of improving public governance and providing healthy environment conducive to development and growth." The key issues and challenges coming in the way of development such as population stabilisation, reforms in administration, judiciary and electoral system have to be addressed with a sense of urgency, the Vice-President said. He said about 26 crore Indians were still below the poverty line with no access to literacy, education or health care. The twin issues of poverty alleviation and fast track development are of critical importance and should be addressed in tandem. Degrees and medals were presented to 460 students at the function. Shekhawat said science and technology should be purposefully used to get rid of poverty, ignorance and disease that still afflict the millions. "We also need to have scientific and secular outlook. We must rise above supersition and prejudice and obscurantism. We should combine science and technology with a new spiritual awakening which rekindles the higher humane values," he said. "We need to build up, promote and propogate ethos where development is measured not just in terms of GDP but in terms of overall content of happiness, character and value orientation of the humanity at large," Shekhawat said. Saluting the youth power, he said the achievements of the present generation of the Indian youth have enabled India to become the third largest reservoir of scientific and technical manpower. "It is on their strength that we are today on the it super highway." He urged the youth to grab the opportunity to take the country on the fast track, thus fulfilling the dream of making India a developed nation by 2020. Highlighting the achievements made by India since Independence, he said "our farmers have achieved self-sufficiency in food, our granaries have stocks of more than 22 million tonnes of foodgrains. Our achievements in industry, defence, space and atomic energy have been spectacular." The economy was stable and resilient and "we were approaching the target of eight per cent growth of GDP in the tent plan. On this strength, India is now at the take-off juncture and ready to be on high growth trajectory." Earlier, Shekhawat who is also the Chancellor of the university, conferred Honorory Degrees of Doctor of Science on former Punjab Governor Lt Gen (retd) J F R Jacob and and former ISRO Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan. Govind Chandra Pande, Chairman-cum-president, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, received the Honorory Degree of Doctor of Literature while that of doctor of Philosphy was conferred on Haryana Police Chief M S Malik for his thesis on "human rights and the security forces: a functional study of the legal regime with special reference to India". Among others present on the occasion were Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Justice (retd) O P Verma and Punjab Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar. (PTI) |
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