Vajpayee celebrates his 82nd birthday,
PM wishes him long life

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: BJP patriarch A B Vajpayee today celebrated his 82nd birthday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set aside political differences to call on him and greet him on the occasion.

Singh, who drove to the former Prime Minister’s 6-Krishna Menon Marg residence this morning, greeted him by presenting a bouquet. Both the leaders were closeted for about five minutes and Vajpayee also came out to see off Singh.

Leader of opposition L K Advani also visited the party stalwart and greeted him as scores of BJP supporters thronged the residence to greet him on his birthday.

The BJP leaders who visited him on the occasion included Rajnath Singh, Arun Shourie, Arun Jaitley, Najma Heptula, Sahib Singh Verma and Shivraj Singh Chowhan.

Former Union Minister Sahib Singh Verma told reporters that the party wants vajpayee to continue the role of ‘Margdarshak’.

"The party wants vajpayee to continue in the role of `Margdarshak’. When the turn comes (we come in power) either Vajpayee or his nominee will be the Prime Minister," he said.

Arun Jaitley described the Prime Minister’s visiting Vajpayee as a good tradition. "This is a good trend. We are all political opponents, but we want each other’s best."

Asked whether BJP leaders will carry forward this tradition and wish Congress leaders including its president Sonia Gandhi on such occasions, Jaitley promptly said "yes."

"Why not. I do not think anybody has any personal agenda against any leader," he said.

BJP leader Najma Heptula also described Prime Minister’s visit as a sign of "healthy politics".

"Everybody respects Atalji. It is a sign of healthy politics that Prime Minister came and greeted him on the occasion. Singh is a very desent person also," she told reporters, adding that "when in politics we do not become enemy of each other."

Expelled party leader Madan Lal Khurana also visited Vajpayee and wished him on the occasion.

The residence of Vajpayee wore a decorative look on the occasion. Vajpayee came to the lawn around 12 o’clock where he met party workers and leaders. Students of various schools also came to offer their wishes to the former premier. (PTI)

Indore girl claims to set new marathon dancing record

INDORE, Dec 25: A 16-year-old city girl has claimed to a new record by dancing continuously for 85 hours.

Aditi began tapping her feet at 0930 hrs on December 20 and continued to dance until 2230 hrs last night. During this period, she danced on filmi songs, folk music and other songs.

Her family members, friends, students and other people were present to encourage her. (UNI)

Sarna cremated

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: Colonel G S Sarna, who laid down his life fighting Pakistani mercenaries in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated with full military honours at Brar Square here today.

Military officers, relatives and friends were present in large numbers to bid a tearful adieu to Sarna.

A wreath was placed on his body on behalf of Army Chief J J Singh.

Sarna, a dare-devil officer known for leading his men from the front, died Saturday when his men chanced upon an underground terrorist hideout at Patan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

He took over as Commanding Officer of a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in June 2005.

Sarna is survived by his wife Jasleen Kaur and five-year-old son Sahej Preet. (PTI)

Decision to rescind MLAs’ suspension
to protect JDs: Gowda

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda today said the decision to rescind the suspension of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and 38 other MLAs in Karnataka would protect the party from the "evil designs" of detractors.

"The suspended members were humiliated by Congress and equally by us. We were able to realise the circumstances under which the legislators forced to take the decision," he said in his address to the national executive here.

Taking a dig at the Election Commission, he said it was unprecedented in the history of India after Independence that a Chief Minister was reprimanded for announcing an old programme much prior to the commencement of Model Code of Conduct.

Referring to his son, he said, "the Chief Minister of Karnataka announced the programme on October 14 whereas the Model Code of Conduct was enforced on November 7."

"In other staes where the leaders, including Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu and HRD Minister in Bihar, announced alluring programmes despite the Model Code of Conduct being in place, but the EC was silent," he said. (PTI)

International kite festival in Gujarat from Jan 13-15

ANAND, Dec 25: Over 70 kiteflyers from across the country and abroad will participate in an international kite festival to be held from January 13 to 15 at Petlad, about 20 km from here.

Gujarat Minister of State for Tourism C D Patel said the International Kite Festival will be held during the vibrant Gujarat celebrations that begin from January 12.

He said the festival has given a boost to the kite industry. "Only five years back, the turnover of the industry was Rs 23 crore but it was Rs 100 crore last year. In the next five years, it is expected to increase to Rs 500 crore."

He said the vibrant Gujarat global investors summit will be held in Ahmedabad on January 12 and 13, in which 249 industrialists and 750 investors from 66 countries will take part. (UNI)

Bihar third among Indian states in child marriage

PATNA, Dec 25: A large number of girls in Bihar are married before they turn 18, the minimum age prescribed by the law, posing a serious threat to their lives and that of their children.

In Bihar, the average age of a girl at marriage is 17.2 years, third after Rajasthan (16.6 years) and Madhya Pradesh (17 years), according to a recent report of the UNICEF.

While an alarming 80 per cent of girls get married below the age of 18 in West Champaran district, it is 73 per cent in Nawada, around 70 per cent in Kaimur and Rohtas and 66 per cent in Madhepura district.

According to a report of the Population Foundation of India, the situation was comparatively better in Siwan, Katihar, Purnia and Saran districts where the girls married off before they attained 18 years of age were 43 per cent, 47.5 per cent, 48.2 per cent and 51.3 per cent respectively.

In Patna district, hardly 40 per cent of girls below the legally permissible age get married and this could be attributed to higher percentage of literacy. At 52.7 per cent, Patna has the highest female literacy rate among districts in Bihar.

The UNICEF's latest report on the state of the world's children says parents consent to child marriage out of economic necessity, or because they believe marriage will protect girls from sexual assault and pregnancy outside marriage, extend girl's child-bearing years or ensure obedience to their husband's household.

Senior gynaecologist and professor at Magadh Medical College and Hospital Reena Singh said premature pregnancy and motherhood were inevitable consequences of child marriage.

Admitting that there was a rise in cases of pregnancy out of the wedlock among adolescent girls, she said "Many of these pregnant girls who throng various private nursing homes and hospitals are hardly 14-15 years old".

Singh also said that several married pregnant girls, particularly from rural areas, were unable to tell their age and during examination it was found that a fairly large number of them were well below 18 years.

Girls under 15 years of age are five times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than women in their 20s. If a mother is under 18 years of age, her baby's chance of dying in the first year of life is 60 per cent greater than that of a baby born to a mother older than 19.

Even if the child survives, he or she is more likely to suffer from low birth-weight, undernutrition and late physical and cognitive development.

Besides, according to the UNICEF report, girls who marry at a very young age are also more vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual abuse and are less likely to complete even primary education.

Singh said the government, besides clamping down on those promoting child marriage, should also launch an awareness campaign against the practice in a big way to sensitise the people to the inherent dangerous consequences for both the individual and the society.

In Bihar, where 61 out of every 1000 newly born die immediately after birth, the need for effective enforcement of the law banning child marriage and public awareness about the hazards is even more pressing, she said. (PTI)

Indo-US N-deal pre-occupied foreign affairs in 2006

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: The United States Congressional legislation came as the icing on the cake concretising the nuclear deal with India that stood out as an outstanding success for New Delhi's diplomacy in the year that went by, notwithstanding reservations from the Left and the Right of the political spectrum and nuclear scientists.

The year 2006, however, saw the threat of a major setback to the improving ties with Pakistan after the deadly July 11 Mumbai blasts blamed on elements across the border.

As the year progressed, the situation on the Pakistan front was resurrected with some mature diplomatic manoeuvres resulting in the resumption of bilateral composite dialogue and setting up of a joint working group on battling terrorism.

While the Indo-Pak relations hogged limelight for about five months, the External Affairs Ministry remained pre-occupied throughout the year with the civil nuclear deal with the US.

The agreement, initiated on July 18 last year and concluded on March 2 this year during the visit of President George W Bush, was translated into law earlier this month.

Ending India's 30-year-old isolation in the nuclear field, the development is billed as one that will transform the relations between the two countries.

The process has not been smooth, however, as controversies have accompanied the deal, with both Left allies and rightist opposition attacking the Congress-led government of "mortgaging" the country's sovereignty.

Even the final bill, which was signed into law by Bush on December 18, contains certain elements which are seen with concern in India. Even the Government has acknowledged this fact and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed this to Bush when the latter telephoned him up on December 21.

The process of establishing the cooperation has not, however, been completed as the two countries will now have to negotiate a separate pact -- 123 agreement -- to operationalise the civil nuclear deal. India hopes its concerns will be addressed in that agreement.

Besides, New Delhi also has to negotiate a safeguards agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and wait for 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to amend its guidelines to allow international community to have nuclear cooperation with India.

As pre-occupation with the nuclear deal continued, relations with Pakistan, which had been improving over the past two years, witnessed a setback after terrorists struck in Mumbai on July 11 by carrying out serial train blasts.

Nearly 200 people were killed and over 800 injured in the peak office hour explosions in local trains in the commercial capital and security agencies pointed accusing fingers at ISI and Pakistan-based terror group Lashker-e-Taiba.

A war of words ensued between the two countries coupled with huge public outrage. In the midst of this, India indefinitely postponed the Foreign Secretary-level talks slated for July 20.

The relations witnessed yet another cold spell before the Prime Minister and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf met in Havana on the sidelines of the NAM Summit in September.

The two leaders decided to set up a joint mechanism to fight terrorism and agreed to resumption of Foreign Secretary-level talks. This led to easing of tensions.

Another neighbour, Nepal, was on the boil as a popular movement gained momentum for restoration of democracy, which was suspended by King Gyanendra in February last year.

This posed a major challenge for India in terms of foreign policy as Nepal depends on the closest neighbour for almost everything.

India was faced with a precarious situation as traditionally it has advocated twin-pillar system -- Constitutional monarchy and democratic government -- in Nepal. However, this time, one pillar -- democratic forces -- had risen in revolt against the other pillar -- the monarchy.

New Delhi engaged in back-channel diplomatic manoeuvers resulting in King Gyanendra giving up his control on power and paving the way for formation of a democratic Government. In the churning, Maoists, who have been fighting against the system for over a decade, also joined the mainstream.

Concerns also persisted in New Delhi over the situation in Sri Lanka which continued to worsen during the year.

There was, however, immensely stepped up engagement with the countries across the globe. Significant among these were China, Britain, European Union, Japan, Brazil, Germany, South Africa and other countries of the African continent.

Chinese President Hu Jintao undertook a landmark visit here last month reflecting growth in the bilateral ties. During the visit, the two sides agreed to take a slew of measures to improve ties.

But the visit was preceded by a controversy caused by Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi's statement that Beijing considers entire Arunachal Pradesh as part of his country. This led to uproar in the political and other circles but tempers have subsided lately.

The year also saw another significant visit, that of Saudi King who was the Chief Guest at Republic Day.

Along with incoming visits by heads of state or government and other leaders from various countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also travelled to several nations like UK, Germany, Finland, Russia, South Africa and Japan.

Strengthening ties in the field of business was the dominant theme of these visits.

The trend is expected to continue in 2007. (PTI)

IDPA begins year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations

MUMBAI, Dec 25: Country's premier body of documentary and short films -- Indian Documentary Producers's Association (IDPA)-- began its year long Golden Jubilee celebration this month and has plans to promote independent short and documentary film making in the country.

"During the golden Jubilee year, our main concern is to promote independent short and documentary film making and provide a platform geared towards achieving that end by recognising and rewarding the Indian talent, whatever the discipline of communication," Jahnu Barua President of Indian Documentary Producers's Association (IDPA) said here today.

Unveiling a new road map in the changing media context, will also mark the 50th year of the association giving new relevance to young film makers, he said.

Some of the initiatives planned for the year would include IDPA to play as a key policy influencer with the government and sister organisations, especially in the intellectual property rights, copy rights, contracting protocols and broadcast and distribution policies.

The association will also be a creative player in orienting young producers of non-fiction content towards new technologies, distribution channels and revenue steams.

IDPA also plans to be a creator of archives in order to act as a `content exchange' with overseas buyers, Barua said.

For having a truly national presence, IDPA will network with film socieites and documentary forums across the country, creating regional chapters of the association, Barua said.

"IDPA also recognises the value of the content we create in this knowledge era and we hope to take some revolutionary steps this year in helping our members, for the first time, consolidate their work and earn the rewards of their efforts," Barua added. (PTI)

CRPF, DDA encroached land in Delhi: MCD

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have encroached 22.15 acres of land acquired by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for setting up a hospital.

According to an MCD report about land encroachments, a 22.15 acre plot in Mehrauli of South Delhi acquired for establishing a hospital has been "completely" occupied by CRPF and DDA illegally.

While the paramilitary force is occupying 11.80 acres, DDA flats occupy the remaining 10.33 acre land, which is under the jurisdiction of the Land and Estate Department of the civic body, it said. Only 0.02 acre was left unecroached.

Strongly denying the report, CRPF said they were not in possession of any land belonging to the MCD. Senior DDA officials refused to comment on the issue saying they had not received any communication in this regard from the civic body.

"It is totally false. We are not in possession of any land. We are seeking eight acres of land in Mehrauli and have already applied to the MCD and the DDA in this regard," CRPF Inspector General (Northern Range) D P Singh told PTI.

Singh said the application is still pending.

The 130 bighas of land in Samlakha village, alloted for shop plots and some petrol pumps, have also been completely encroached by slum dwellers, the report said.

The acquisition of the land had run into rough weathers earlier when some villagers approached the court and most of the plots could not be handed over to the allottees.

The civic body won a favourable judgement in 2003 but in the meantime the whole plot was illegally occupied. MCD is taking action to remove encroachment, the report said.

The MCD is also contemplating auctioning of 125 vacant shops transferred by the Union Urban Development Ministry to its Land and Estate Department, it said.

The shops include 42 in Vasant Vihar Shopping Complex and 39 in R K Puram Sector-I market.

The report prepared by the JJ and Slum Department of MCD said encroachments have been detected in 17 plots under its jurisdiction with 16,238 sq metre under illegal occupation.

One of the major encroachments in its land is at Nand Nagri where a Gurudwara has encroached about half of the area earmarked for residential plots. The Gurudwara has illegally occupied 4,192 square metre of a 8,400 square metre plot.

Land belonging to commercial centres in Shahbad Daulatpur, Raghubir Nagar and Nand Nagri have also been encroached. About 4,185 square metre of 16,722 square metre of the commercial cum industrial complex in Shazada Bagh has also been encroached, the report said.

Interestingly, 695-square metre land earmarked for putting up a police post in Shahbad Daulatpur is also under illegal occupation.

About 67.68 acres in 901 MCD parks across the capital was illegally occupied for religious purposes, the report said.

The report has also revealed that the land belonging to schools have also been encroached. A retired peon is among those who encroached school premises in Balli Maran while a gymanisium was illegally running from a premise in Seelampur. (PTI)

NCW rejects proposal for punishing women for adultery

NEW DELHI, Dec 25: A woman, even if she is involved in an illicit relationship, cannot be punished for adultery and is treated as the victim under law.

And the National Commission for Women (NCW) has shot down proposals for amending Section 497 so that women can be prosecuted for adultery.

The Commission had been asked by the Centre to review Section 497 which does not envisage prosecution of the wife by the husband for adultery.

The section provides expressly that the wife shall not be punishable even as an abettor, based on the reasoning that the wife, who is involved in an illicit relationship with another man, is a victim and not the author of the crime.

According to NCW sources, the Commission does not feel that by merely prescribing punishment for women by amending Section 497, the marriage can be protected or saved.

The NCW has forwarded its recommendations to the government, in which it has stated that considering the relatively socially disempowered position of women, the Commission suggests no amendments to Section 497 of IPC.

The existing provision in the IPC is based on the mindset that the wife is a personal possession of the husband, who is the sole aggrieved person in an incident of adultery.

The Commission has, however, recommended suitable amendments to Section 198(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPRC), which as of now disqualifies the wife of an unfaithful husband from prosecuting him for his promiscuous behaviour.

It has told the government that as the wife already can take action against her husband under various other legal provisions, such as Section 498A of IPC, there is no reason that she should be debarred from initiating prosecution under Section 198 of CRPC.

The wife, in such cases, ought to be the person aggrieved and competent to file a complaint under Section 198.

In another important recommendation, the Commission has said adultery should be treated as a civil wrong and not a criminal offence.

It is of the view that there may be many instances where the woman wants to save the marriage and sees the adulterous relationship as an aberration.

The issue of adultery should be viewed as a breach of trust and be treated as a civil wrong rather than as a criminal offence.

The NCW has, however, said this should be done only after a national consensus is formed on the issue. (PTI)

Vajpayee is undisputed leader of NDA: Nitish

PATNA, Dec 25: Throwing his weight behind BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he is the "undisputed leader" and the most suitable Prime Ministerial candidate if the NDA returns to power.

Reacting to reports that BJP president Rajnath Singh and his predecessor were interested in the post, the JD(U) leader whose party is a prominent constituent of NDA said "no vacancy exists for the time being. In case of a vacancy, we will think about it and inform the media."

"Vajpayee is the undisputed leader of the NDA at the moment and there will be no vacancy for the post of prime minister in case the NDA returns to power at the Centre," he told reporters at his residence.

Favouring reservation for socially and educationally backward Dalit Christians and Muslims, the chief minister said "The Centre is to take a decision in this regard. The state will abide by the decision".

Bihar Government has already formulated a ten point programme for the uplift of the minorities, the Chief Minister said. (PTI)

Improvement of wildlife habitat in Kashmir imperative: PDP

SRINAGAR, Dec 25: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, today called for effective measures to check attacks of wild animals on people.

In a statement here, a PDP spokesman expressed shock over the increase in attacks of wild animals on the people in Kashmir.

Several people have been wounded in these attacks in Sopore, Baramulla and some parts of south Kashmir during the last fortnight.

The spokesman called for effective steps in providing proper habitat to wild animals so that they do not come down to villages.

He suggested that the field staff of the wildlife department need to be geared up to develop proper habitat for wild animals at their sanctuaries and devise comprehensive policies for the preservation of the wildlife. (UNI)