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| Both rich and penniless to slug it out in Delhi polls NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Flaunting one’s affluence for effect is not exactly unusual, but divulging every bit of it, that......more Responses
from several NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Terming the non-sharing of information by certain countries in the Bofors case as a ...more Worth USd
5 bn, indian NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Estimated to be worth at least 5 billion dollars, media in India is one...more ‘Champu
bhaiya’, RAIPUR, Nov 23: The bard had once asked "what’s in a name?" some of the candidates...more |
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HC directs DDA to bring plot meant for park to original use NEW DELHI, Nov 23: In a significant judgement, the Delhi High Court has pulled up Delhi development authority....more Kasturba
Nagar to witness NEW DELHI, Nov 23: As ruling Congress and BJP fight it out at the hustings in Kasturba Nagar assembly....more NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Period films are again in vogue this year has already seen the release of Chandraprakash.....more Defaluting
VIPs’ power NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Ordering stern action, Delhi High Court has directed the New Delhi Municipal......more |
Both rich and penniless to slug it out in Delhi polls NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Flaunting one’s affluence for effect is not exactly unusual, but divulging every bit of it, that too for public scrutiny, is. An election law, however, ensures that there is no escaping the fact that those who are fighting the battle of ballots will have to bare not only their material assets, but also criminal records and educational qualifications. The disclosure of assets by the contestants in the December one elections to the 70-member Delhi assembly makes a fascinating reading of bulging bank balance and fleet of sleek cars for some. There are also a few whose disclosures border on disbelief as they claim themselves to be absolutely penniless. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the Congress candidate from Gole Market constituency, has a cash of Rs 30,000 and a bank balance of Rs 3,98,424. Ms Dikshit has also invested money in shares of some private companies, mutual funds and Government securities and bonds. She has invested Rs 8,000 in ICICI money multiplier bond, Rs 10,000 in IND tax shield B bond, Rs 70,000 in ICICI tax saving bond, Rs 19,800 in Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, Rs 3328 in Prudential Services Ltd, Rs 136,500 in Apollo tyres, Rs 3328 in ceat financial services, Rs 4215 in Daurala Organics Ltd, Rs 200,000 in RBI relief bond 1450000 in PNB relief bond and Rs 15,000 in UTI mip. In addition, the Chief Minister has made an investment of Rs 8,21,651 in some other financial institutions. With regard to jewellery, Ms Dikshit has divulged 30 grams of gold (Rs 15,000), diamonds (Rs 35,000) and eight Kg of silver (Rs 63,000). A post-graduate from Miranda house, she has also a flat in Nizamuddin. Surprisingly, Ms Dikshit does not own a personal vehicle. Dr Mahinder Singh Saathi, the Finance Minister in the outgoing house and known for both his affluence and suavity, also does not own a personal vehicle. But the cash owned by him and his relatives is around Rs 45,000, while the bank balance has a figure of Rs 2977113. Dr Saathi, the Congress nominee from Vishnu Garden, has invested Rs 5829000 in shares and bonds and possesses jewellery worth Rs 450000. His immovable property has an estimated value of Rs 10600000. On the other hand, BJP’s dummy candidate from Babarpur, Virendra Singh, in his affidavit filed before the returning officer, shows nil in the column for cash. Similarly, Veer Narayan Kaushik and Neeraj Dhamija, candiadtes from the Karawal Nagar and Rohtash Nagar constituencies respectively, have shown nil in the cash column. Shiv Sena candidate from Nand Nagri, Mr Bhikari, also falls in this category. Mr Nathu Prasad, the CPI(M) candidate from Ramnagar, is somewhat in a better position with a cash amount of Rs 560 and Rs 1,000 in bank account. In addition, he has a scooter (Rs 8,000), the wife’s jewellery (Rs 25,0005) and two plots of land in Bahadurgarh worth Rs 130,000. Mr Sanjay Jain, the BJP’s nominee from Seelampur, did not encounter much problem in disclosing his assets. He has only Rs 1717 in the bank account. A bachelor, he does not own any personal vehicle nor a house and has only Rs 15,000 in cash. At the other end of the spectrum is Delhi assembly speaker Subhash Chopra, who is Congress candidate from Kalkaji. He has a cash worth Rs 175,000 with him or his relatives, Rs 2067411 in banks and other financial institutions, jewellery worth Rs 21.33 lakh, agricultural land (Rs 3.5 crore), 20 per cent share in landed property worth Rs 1.5 crore in Okhla and residential and commercial property worth Rs 162.95 lakh. Yet Mr Chopra, the former president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) does not have a vehicle of his own, as per the affidavit filed before the returning officer. The disclosure made by Ebullient transport and Tourism Minister Ajay Maken shows a cash of Rs 230,000 owned by him and his relatives, Rs 691180 in bank accounts, shares and bonds (Rs 6887897), jewellery (Rs 266760), landed and other immovable property (Rs 17069300) and an Indigo deluxe car worth around Rs 4.66 lakh. Besides Mr Maken, Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed (Cong), Shoaib Iqbal (Janata Dal-S), Mange Ram Garg (BJP), Poornima Sethi (BJP), Bhisma Sharma (Cong) are among the candidates who are facing various charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The affidavits filed by the candidates prove at least one thing: democracy is a great leveller, and if your political ambitions are booming high, everything else pales into insignificance, at least till ballot boxes are opened or votes counted on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). (UNI) |
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Responses from several countries
on Bofors NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Terming the non-sharing of information by certain countries in the Bofors case as a "frustating experience", CBI has said responses to several letters rogatory, which would help establish the end-use of the bribe money, were still awaited from many countries. "Whatever we have found is before the Court and even today a large number of letters rogatory are pending with various countries seeking this particular information," CBI Director P C Sharma told PTI here. "Some money has been traced but we are trying to find the end use of the entire money," he said. Asked which were the countries where the letters rogatory were still pending, Sharma said "Bahamas, Austria and, in fact, there is one more pending in Switzerland...They have not responded and we keep on reminding them." Asked what could be the problem for these countries in not responding to CBI requests, he said "it is diffcult to understand. We have been reminding them on our own and also using the diplomatic chanels for this. It is very difficult to know why they are not responding...This is one frustating experience." Referring to Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the CBI Director said "there is absolutely no reply from rome to our request to ascertain whether he was in that country." He said the agency had definite information that Quattrocchi was in Italy. "When he left from Malaysia, he said that he was going to italy to meet his daughter." The CBI Director said the agency had provided even the address and the telephone number to the Interpol Authority for Verification. "But there is no response from them so far," he said. Sharma expressed the hope that Quattrocchi may come to the United Kingdom, where his money had been frozen by the Bristish authorities following a CBI request. "May be we could catch hold of him there," the CBI Director desired. When asked whether the "look out" notice issued against Hinduja’s stood withdrawn, the CBI Director said "well, we are not harrassing anyone...Look out notice must have been withdrawn." (PTI) |
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Worth USd 5 bn, indian media
industry more NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Estimated to be worth at least 5 billion dollars, media in India is one of the fastest growing and most exciting industry with a potential to become to the Indian economy what Information Technology (IT) has been so far, says a new book. "In India in the last three years, it has become increasingly likely that the media industry could be to the Indian economy what it has been so far; A massive opportunity to generate investment, revenues, exports and employment", says the book "the Indian media business" by Vanita Kohli. It is currently a 9.6 billion dollar (approx.Rs.4800 crore) business and it has grown from almost nothing a decade ago, the book says. The book, claimed by the publishers to be the first one in the country to throw light on the media industry and its all five major segments- print, television, film, music and radio has all that one wanted to know about media but was afraid to ask, says Peter Mukerjea, CEO of Star in his foreword. "We are a nation that is nowhere near media saturated. As media consumption habits continue to evolve in India, a book on the Indian media business in the country, I am certain, is just a percussor to several others that will follow on the subject", he adds. The Indian media industry employs several million people and the numbers on both adspend and penetration are mind-boggling. About 80 million television homes, 7.5 million Personal Computers (PCs), 4.2 million internet subscribers and of course over 15 million mobile phones- are some of the figures that show the enormous growth of the media business. Films, music, news, cricket and other events all keep increasing the demand for more media and vice versa, Kohli says. Kohli says that unlike it or Biotech, the burden of history is too strong on Indian media business. Large portions of it like flim, music or publishing were old industries with their own idiosyncrasies. Some like film are extremely disorganised while some like cable have got hopelessly criminalised. Unlike the us, however, India does not have a single media conglomerate worth its name. While viacom or news corp can simply capture, retain and harvest value better because they own media across geographies, industries and technologies, in India the film industry still may have to depend on dodgy distributors to stick a few posters to promote new films. "Even the Bennet Coleman & Company Ltd. (BCCL), by far India’s largest media company is largely dependent on one edition to bring in a bulk of its revenues and profits", the book says and adds that except for mid-day or living media, very few companies have had success with branching across media-whether it is broadcasting, films or anything else". Kohli says the Indian media business today is more vibrant and happening than in the developed markets for two reasons. First, because India was a large, young market that consumed huge amounts of information and entertainment. The second reason was that the country has a large base of professionals, artistes and filmmakers who eventually form the base for exporting large amounts of entertainment and media products. From James Augustus Hicky’s Bengal gazette which was launched in 1780 as India’s first newspaper, the print industry in the country has grown to become an estimated Rs 1.5 billion business with 49,145 newspapers/periodicals selling roughly 129 million copies. The revenue of Rs 50 billion that the print media generated, however, looks poor compared to the 77 billion-dollar that newspapers and magazines clocked in the US in 1995, the book says and adds that this was not a very good show by a 222-year-old industry. Tracing the history of the Indian publishing industry, Kohli says that the transformation of the print media into business began post 1977 after the emergency when a host of factors forced a change in the industry. Eager to know what happened in the 18 months of censorship, people bought more newspapers. The growth of the publication industry could also be traced to growth of literacy, the rise of capitalism and spread of technology. Communication technology allowed the use of facsimile or satellite editions and the seventies and eighties were full of examples of new companies and brands that hastened to tap into this growth to make money. When satellite television took off in 1995 print media was still in its bullish phase growing in editions, products, revenues and size. In 1995, the print media still commanded 70 odd per cent share of the advertising market. By 2001 print has lost substantial ground to television. Its share in the ad pie was down to a little over 50 per cent. Under pressure from many publishers, the Government announced its decision to allow 26 per cent foreign direct investment into Indian print in June 2002. The decision has set in motion the process of thinking about surviving in a competitive rather than protected environment, the book says. On television, Kohli says that after a rather innocuous beginning, television broadcasting in India has become a Rs 100-odd billion thriving industry. Even as it pauses for breath, there are technologies pushing it to change- Dth, internet over cable, television over internet, voice over cable- all waiting to happen, the book says and adds that technology has changed the economics of the business. The book also takes a close look at the film, music and radio industries in the country, their origin, growth, present standing and challenges. (about the book: the Indian media business by Vanita Kohli, sage publications, pages 258, price not mentioned) (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Period films are again in vogue this year has already seen the release of Chandraprakash Dviwedi’s highly appreciated Pinjar , a film that deals with love and human emotions in the backdrop of the tragic partition of India in 1947 and which created waves at the recent international film festival of India. Rituparno Ghosh’s Chokher Bali , dealing with the ills of the then Bengli society in the late 19th century, is another period film that released this year, after creating waves on the international cinematic circuit. At the same time, films like LoC Kargil , J P Dutta’s ambitious venture on the Indo-Pakistan conflict during the Kargil episode and Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal - an eternal Love Story , a historical film set in the the Mughal era of Indian history and revolving around the universal theme of love, the undying romance of the great Emperor Shahjahan and his empress Mumtaz Mahal, are on the threshold of release. The coming year has more period films in the offing including the much-hyped Ketan Mehta’s the rising , based on the 1857 uprising in British colonial India. The movie is the story of revolutionary Mangal Pandey and his friendship with a British Commanding Officer, played by Hollywood actor Toby Stephens. The film has filmstar Aamir Khan essaying the role of Mangal Pandey, who was executed for leading the revolt that killed many British officers. Another film on the anvil is N Chandra’s Indra Gandhi-a tryst with destiny , a film based on the life and times of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film, being produced by Nitin Keni, has Manisha Koirala in the title role. Also expected next year is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani . Four ambitious period ventures this year, and many more in the coming year, means the tide has definitely turned in favour of period films in an industry where such ventures have, in the past, been usually few and far between. Trade observers say the stupendous success of two period films Lagaan and Gadar a few years ago have encouraged filmmakers to attempt more and more such films. In fact, ever since Lagaan and Gadar-Ek Prem Katha and, more recently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas send cash registers ringing in the film industry suffering from a spate of flops, there has been a renewed interest in period dramas in the industry, specially among the so-called commercial filmmakers. While Lagaan won critical acclaim (the film bagged a nominations at the prestigious oscars awards) as well as box office success, Anil Sharma’s Gadar turned out to be the highest box office grosser ever in India. Last year, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s modern interpretation of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s Devdas was the biggest Bollywood hit in a year beset with flops. That all the above three films did well during a period when a majority of films were falling like ninepins at the box office itself explains the new-found enthusiasm among filmmakers for period films. The period films released this year too have won a lot of critical acclaim in India as well as abroad. Chokher Bali , which stars former Miss World Aishwarya Rai as Binodini, a widow who refused to lead a life of deprivation, has evoked a lot of appreciation at home as well as abroad, featuring in several international film festivals. At the same time, Chandraprakash Dviwedi’s Pinjar , which shows how the partition not only divided this country on geographic lines but also left deep scars on the minds of millions of people on both sides of the border, has won rave reviews from critics (the film was the opening movie at the recent International Film Festival of India held at Delhi) for its authentic depiction of the events during partition as well as brilliant performances by its lead players. Pinjar is based on a novel by the same name written by renowned Punjabi writer Amrita Pritam. Manoj Bajpai and Urmila Matondkar play leading roles in this period film. Trade observers feel a sea change in audience tastes and perception over the last few years means things have changed for the better as far as period films are concerned. "The reason that novel ideas, including period films, are today being translated on celluloid by an increasing number of filmmakers is that the audience is today welcoming films which break the rules and steer away from the formula ,"filmmaker Anurag Kashyap told UNI. In fact, the encouraging public response for path-breaking films like Koi Mil Gaya , Kaante and Dil Chahta Hai has shown that today’s audience is willing to accept films with novel ideas and treatment, something which was unimaginable a few years ago. Nothing reflects the changing scenario more than the fact that a Hollywood distribution firm like Columbia Tristar Films (India) decided to take up the distribution rights of Pinjar in India. As Mr Nitin Bhikchandani of Columbia Tristar told UNI: "For us what is most important is that the film should be a good product that today’s vast urban intelligentia should be able to identify with." Another factor that has perhaps worked in favour of sensible films like Pinjar and Choker Bali is the growing number of multiplexes across the country in recent years. "The burgeoning of multiplexes across the country has helped the cause of the new wave of sensible cinema exemplified by films like Pinjar and ‘Samay-when time strikes’. These theatres provide greater scope for the kind of sensible cinema that we are promoting,"Mr Bhikchandani said. Another reason for an increasing enthusiasm for period films is an increasing number of Indian films doing well in the international market over the last few years, making the overseas audience one of the crucial target audience for filmmakers in the country. This is evident from the rising number of so-called crossover films by Indian filmmakers. Companies like Columbia Tristar taking up distribution of films like Pinjar is perhaps another indicator of this trend. In fact, Akbar Khan s "Taj Mahal -an eternal Love Story" will be the first Bollywood film to be released simultaneously in Hollywood after being dubbed in English, thus effectively catering to the western audience. Internationally acclaimed Yanni is being roped in to provide the musical score for the film. Films based on historical events have been part of Indian cinema ever since its inception. In the past few decades there have been many notable films which were either set during the time of partition or against the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle-Govind Nihalani’s Tamas (1986), Sir Richard attenborough’s Gandhi (English 1982), Ketan Mehta’s Sardar (1993), Shyam Benegal’s the making of the Mahatma (English, 1995), Pamela Rooks’ Train To Pakistan (English, 1998), Deepa Mehta’s 1947: Earth (1998), and Jabbar Patel’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (English, 2000) and Shyam Benegal’s trilogy of films: Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), and Zubeida (2001). However, most of the above films did not receive an encouraging response at the box office. In fact, prior to Lagaan and Gadar , the only Hindi period films to have met with universal success were Kranti and Umrao Jaan , both of which were released as far back as 1981. However, with the last few years witnessing a series of period films, it seems, Indian cinema’s honeymoon with period films is here to stay. (UNI) |
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Defaluting VIPs’ power and
water supply NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Ordering stern action, Delhi High Court has directed the New Delhi Municipal Council to forthwith disconnect water and electricity connection to MPs and political parties, who had not paid their dues despite numerous reminders. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice A K Sikri also told the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd to supply the Court the details and a list of all the defaulting MPs, former MPs and political parties who had unpaid bills. The Judges also asked the Director, (Finance) Indian Tourism Development Corporation to be present in Court on the next date of hearing to explain what recovery action had been taken so far and what was proposed to be done in future. Notice was also issued to Deputy Commissioner, Jamnagar house, to give reasons for delay in recovery of dues amounting to about Rs three lakh from Indian youth Congress. The Court was dealing with a petition filed by Krishak Bharat, seeking directions to the authorities to recover outstanding water, electricity, phone and hotel bills of various present and former PMs, political parties and Government departments/ministries running into crores of rupees. On September 10, the High Court had directed the ITDC, MTNL and NDMC to take all possible action to recover the dues. The bench had hoped that the authorities would take action in accordance with law to recover the unpaid bills of former and sitting Parliamentarians and political organisations for using various facilities over and above the benefits granted to them. "The authorities should not forget that the money belongs to the people and all citizens are to be treated equally," the Judges said. ITDC chairman MTNL’s General Manager and NDMC Chairman were told to report to the Court within two months about the action taken by them in this regard. However, the Court was not satisfied with their replies, saying they were vague and lacked necessary deatils. The MTNL had informed the Court that Rs 9.47 crore was due from 617 ex-MPs and Rs 2.2 crore was due from 83 MPs while Rs 49.46 lakh was due from various political organisations, including about Rs 49 lakh from the Congress party and its affiliates. Only 111 cases were settled through arbitration, it added. The NDMC said that Rs 5.25 crore was due from MPs and ex-MPs while Rs 50 lakh had been recovered. Only 11 MPs responded to the offer announced by the civic body to give 50 per cent discount on the surcharge of pending water and electricity bills, it added. The ITDC said Rs 28 lakh were due from various political organisations, including about Rs 20 lakh from the Congress and its affiliates. About Rs 4.88 lakh and Rs 4.21 lakh was due from the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and Asian junior athletic championship respectively. The High Court had earlier directed the ITDC not to extend its credit facility to any Government ministry/department or person who had uncleared bills amounting to more than Rs ten lakh. Such organisations or persons should first be told to clear its/their outstanding bill, it added. (UNI) The surgeon with a hearing touch MUMBAI, Nov 23: Seeing a deaf and dumb child who started hearing after a successful operation in 1995 was the biggest achievement and satisfaction for the then surgeon commodore V K Singh and also a major break through for armed forces in the field of cochlear implant programme. "It was my biggest award when this child—Athanu Chakraborty—started hearing a few words and I still remember how his father, then an Indian Air Force sergeant, touched my feet and broke down emotionally", recalled surgeon V K Singh who, till recently was the Commandant of Indian Navy Hospital ‘INS Aswini’, and is now the Director General of Health Services (navy) in the rank of Vice Admiral, while talking to UNI here. "I could understand the emotional status of that father, who till then had been looking around the country for some miracle that could give his son a useful life," vice admiral singh said, adding, "the same child, athanu, stood first in the secondary school certificate examination. Vice Admiral Singh, who has recently taken charge in Delhi on his promotion, was in Mumbai to be felicitated and honoured by the cochlear implant group of India for his pioneering work in the Cochlear implant surgery (especially paediatric Cochlear implant surgery) in south east Asia and the Indian armed forces. Since he performed first operation in 1995, Vice Admiral Singh, who had pioneered the surgery in the armed forces, has not looked back, having done 53 operations till date. Explaining the complicated surgery, Vice Admiral Singh said he initially used the Australian nucleus Cochlear implants and later shifted to Austrian medals implants which he implants in the rear side of the ear connecting to the ear hole from behind. While the adults do benefit from the surgery, it is the deaf and dumb child who benefits more with the post surgery speech therapy, he said, adding that they could lead a normal life. Vice Admiral Singh, a specialist in labryinthine (inner ear) surgery, took up the new field of Cochlear implant as more and more deep sea naval divers were being affected with deafness which threatened their service. The admiral, a keen researcher in the field of diving and under water medicine, has to his credit thousands of ear surgeries at the rate of almost 300 a month and since 1980’s he has performed over 100 cases per week of round window rupture operations. Even today as the Director General of Health Services (navy), he has a schedule of one surgery a week of Cochlear implant in Delhi. Commenting on the problems in India, Vice Admiral Singh said there are around 10 million profoundly deaf patients in the country and of them at least one million need Cochlear implants. However, since his first operation in 1995 when the device cost around Rs two lakh, the implants today cost around Rs five lakh and the surgery has become very prohibitive in the civil hospitals. The admiral, a decorated officer with Ati Vishisht Sewa Medal (AVSM) and Vishist Seva Medal (VSM), who is a visiting Professor at the Bionic Ear Institute, Australia, said his effort is to bring the technology of Cochlear implants to India so that they could be manufactured here, bringing down to as low as Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh. This could be of great help to the needy patients across the country. "I will pursue this even after retirement (which is still four years away) and continue to work in creating awareness about the deafness and its cure," Vice Admiral Singh said. Having set up the Cochclear implant surgery centre in pune, ‘INS Aswini’ and R R centre in Delhi and trained surgeons, he is now working towards opening the fourth centre at air force station, Bangalore, which is scheduled for 2005. (UNI) ‘Nehru was strongly opposed
to Indira NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was strongly opposed to his daughter Indira marrying a parsi Feroze Gandhi as he felt they had enormous differences in their background and mentality and besides that he had other plans and dreams for her, says a new book. Nehru was shocked when Indira told him of her decision to marry Feroze on her return to India after cutting short her stay in Oxford in 1941. Indira, who came in touch with Feroze, came back to India with him without an academic degree after she fell ill with a lung infection and fears that she would be plagued by a chest disease like her Mother Kamla. At meetings in prison and through letters, Nehru tried to convince Indira to reconsider the step, pointing to the enormous differences in background and mentality between her and Feroze, according to the latest book on Indira Gandhi "the story of a leader" written by Shahana Dasgupta. Besides, Nehru had other plans and dreams for his daugther, wanting her to follow the family tradition of public service and he wrote to her "gently, slowly but surely to train your mind in that wider understanding of life and events that is essential for any big work." An early and hasty marriage, Nehru feared, would put halt to these plans and tie her down to the routine of domestic life. But Indira stuck to her decision, defending it against her father’s objections, as well as facing a storm of protest from conservative Hindus all over the country. Feroze had fallen in love with Indira while she was attending to her mother at Switzerland where she was treated for her ailments during her last days. A student of London School of Economics and Staunch supporter of the Indian Freedom Movement, Feroze knew the Nehru family from the Allahbad days and would often visit Kamla in Switzerland. He had spoken of his feelings for Indira to her mother who felt that her daughter would be in safe hands, the book says. In her short life burdened by poor health, Kamla Nehru realised that she had not always been able to give her daughter the care and guidance that the girl needed. Nevertheless, she had tried best and her death at the age of 36 left in Indira a wound which never healed. As her father grew older and espcially after her mother’s death, Indira wanted to be near him and to take care of him. And then there was the fascinating world of politics without which she felt she was not in her element. In 1947, when Indira took the children and left for Delhi, from Feroze’s point of view the inevitable split had happened, the book says. Although feroze moved to Delhi a few years later and saw his sons regularly, Indira and Feroze had drifted apart. So much so that even on some political issues they were at Loggerheads. Feroze’s untimely death at the age of 48 in 1960 came as a great shock to Indira and for a while she was totally devastated. Although in later years Indira never spoke about her husband publicly she once told friends, "the Nehrus were very unmusical people. It was Feroze who introduced us to the joys of western classical music." (PTI) An abode of peace on western borders HINDUMALKOT, RAJASTHAN, Nov 23: Very few would be aware that such a village exists. Even few would know it is located on the India-Pakistan border. But there is hardly any distinction between this border village and thousand others in the country. Unlike villages in Jammu and Kashmir along the Indo-Pak border, there is no militant activities or infiltration from across the international boundary. Absolute peace and calm prevails in this sleepy village, merely 20 Km from the district headquarters of Sri Ganganganagar. However, prepardness is absolute to thwart any attempt by the enemy to launch an attack in this sector. The BSF out post is half-a-kilometer away from the electric fence which divides the two nations. "There is absolute normalcy here and we have not faced any attacks or provocation from across the border so far," Biru Ram, a resident of this village told UNI. For natives of Hindumalkot, gunshots and blasts are unheard of. "We know that life in villages and towns in Kashmir along the Indo-Pak border is tough. For many of them existence is at stake but fortunately for us life is normal and peaceful here." Echoing similar sentiments, Nandev, 19, said, "we are leading a normal life." the presence of bop has instilled lot of confidence in us. Infact, the BSF personnel accompany the villagers whenever any of them visits their agricultural land along the international boundary, he added. Two BSF personnel has been alloted for each villager. On the decision to revive cricketing ties with Pakistan, the villagers said such activities will improve ties between the estranged neighbours and that the two countries should play cricket regularly. The main crops grown in this village and adjoining ones are wheat and cotton. Sri Ganganganar district, in which this village is located is adjacent to Punjab and is among the fertile districts in this desert state. From the BSF watch tower one could easily locate the Pakistani rangers through a binocular. Attired in ‘Pathani suits’, they keep maintain vigil along the border. The nearest village on the Pakistani side is Jaljalmussa in the Punjab province. "They are no match for us ... When the need arises we will crush them," a BSF official said and added that the Indian forces are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons compared to their Pak counterparts. "The 1948, ‘65, ‘71 and ‘99 wars have established our supremacy over Pakistan and they will not dare to embark on any misadventures in future," he asserted. The BSF official agreed with the villagers that normalcy and peace prevail in Hindumalkot, a hundred per cent Hindu village. "But we are ready to foil any attempt by the enemy to disturb harmony in the area," he added. "We maintain close ties with the villagers to boost their morale and they provide us information whenever they notice anything unusual." BSF sleuths are posted in all corners of the village to gather vital information. "This is a border village ... We cannot take any chances," the BSF official quipped. However, like most of the border villages in India, smuggling is prevelant in Hindumalkot. Although the situation is not serious, items like rice are smuggled into Pakistan, the villagers informed. Its election time and Hindumalkot is too witnessing campaigning by the political parties. The village falls under Sri Ganganagar assembly constituency. Although the Congress and BJP are the main contenders, Shiv Sena’s entry will make the job tough for them. The total voters in the village are 1,100. "Like all previous elections we will cast our votes this time too," the villagers said. "This time Shiv Sena is also in the fray so let’s see," they added. Colourful tableux of the Congress and BJP could be seen canvassing for their respective candidates. Congress won this seat in 1998 eletions. Rajasthan goes to polls on December 1. Last week Shiv Sena opened its unit (Sakha) here amid much fanfare in the presence of cinestars Sunil Shetty and Mahesh Manjrekar. The party distributed TV sets, fridge and other items of basic necessity among the border security forces personnel on the occasion. Mr Nirupam informed that more such programmes will be organised to boost the morale of the security forces. Shiv Sena is contesting 41 seats in Rajasthan. (UNI) No wave in Rajasthan, but caste important factor in polls JAIPUR, Nov 21: Bereft of a "political wave" or an "over-arching political issue", caste affiliations of the candidates and the issue of development have assumed a greater significance for the December 1 Rajathan polls, political observers here opine. The desert state will see 1541 candidates contesting for 200 assembly seats. The analysts, however, are not sure about which of the two — development and caste — would manifest itself greater at the hustings. The Congress was attempting to woo the backward community and other weaker sections through Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who belongs the Mali community. The BJP was busy rallying the forward castes and the dominant Jat community with its Chief Ministerial nominee Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Ms Scindia is considered an insider in Rajasthan as she is married into the royal family of Dholpur, a Jat Rajwara. The parties are also banking on their past performances and usual allegations and counter allegations against each other. The Congress has trained its guns against the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, targeting what it termed as its "non-performance" at the national level and not coming to the rescue of Rajasthan at the time of a drought, said to be the worst in the past 40 years. The BJP has alleged the Congress Government in the state of having failed to deliver in the past five years. While the ruling party was being accused of having committed irregularities in the relief distribution in the drought hit areas, the BJP was being criticised for various scandals and scams at the national level, apart from the non-payment of the compensation to the farmers of affected during the Kargil conflict in Rajsthan’s Ganganagar district. Caste has played an important role in the selection of the candidates by all political parties in the fray. In the selection of the candidates utmost care has been taken by the two major rivals to ensure that their candidates meet the caste and the communal equations of the constituencies. Jats and the other backward castes have, however, been given special attention. Political analysts, however, also feel that the local anti-incumbency which is being encashed in on by the BJP might not have much of impact. The Congress which has initial edge following the power it enjoyed in the state and the goodwill earned by the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The problem of dissidents and turncoats is being faced by both the Congress and the BJP, thus in a way neutralising the effect. While 32 rebels are in the contest — 18 from the Congress and 14 from the BJP. The significance of the independent candidates can not be underplayed as of the total 1541 nominees 556 are contesting as independents. (UNI) |
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