Aircel launches mobileservices in Bihar

PATNA, Dec 30: Mobile firm Aircel today launched its operations in Bihar, the 9th Telecom Circle in the country where the company has a presence.

The company already has operations in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Northeast and Assam Telecom Circles with more than 4.2 million customers.

The company’s network would cover more than 135 towns and over 1500 kms of the state and national highway in Bihar Circle, Chief Executive Officer of Aircel (North and East Zone) Rohit Chandra told reporters here.

Aircel was establishing more than 10,000 retail outlets, he added.(PTI)

Cong demands CBI probe into Noida serial killing

NOIDA, Dec 30: The suspected serial killing of children in this Delhi suburb took on a political hue, with Congress today demanding a CBI probe into it and attacking the Samajwadi Party Government in the state for its "failure to maintain law and order".

"If the Government really wants to show that it cares for the people, it should hand over the case to the CBI," UP Congress chief Salman Khursheed told reporters after visiting the site in Sector 31 where the skeletal remains of the children were found yesterday.

He said the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government has failed on all fronts and the entire responsibility of the incident lay with the State Government.

"The Government has failed to maintain law and order in the state," Khursheed said, also referring to the sensational Kavita Rani murder case in UP. (PTI)

Photo Electoral Rolls to be norm by 2009: CEC

MUMBAI, Dec 30: Photo-electoral rolls will be the norm in India by 2009 General Elections and some states like Maharashtra and Kerala have completed the procedures for this, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said here today.

"Photo-electoral rolls should be the norm by the time 2009 General Elections come around the corner," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

"While states like Maharashtra and Kerala have completed 100 per cent photo electoral rolls while others like Rajasthan have completed 50 per cent," Gopalaswami said.

He said the Commission had asked the states not to start the process till they had at least 80-85 per cent of the photos, which are picked up from the Photo-Identity Cards.

When asked whether the three states going to polls now -Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur - will have photo-rolls, he replied in the negative, but said "in states that have completed the process, any elections held further will have photo electoral rolls".

Referring to the control on poll-expenditure, he said, "we are trying our best to control the candidates expenditure. For the 2004 elections, we had forwarded the candidates affidavits declaring their assets to the IT Department and they will take action against those whose declarations did not match their it returns."

Indicating that photo-electoral rolls could also be used in the forthcoming local body polls in Maharashtra, he said, "the State Election Commission uses our rolls only and since the process in Maharashtra is complete there is no reason why it should not be used."

Gopalswamy also refused to comment on the dates for the up and Goa Assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held in the first half of this year. (PTI)

Bush-Blair demonstrate arrogance of power: Bhim Singh

JAMMU, Dec 30: Senior advocate and leader of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party Prof Bhim Singh today condemned the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, a few hours before Id-ul-Zuha.

Talking to newspersons, soon after Saddam's execution this morning, he said 'he has no words to condemn this barbaric act.' "I fear the execution will have an adverse impact not only in Iraq, but also in other parts of the world."

"US and UK demonstrated the extreme arrogance of power in public by hanging the former head of a Muslim state a few hours before Id-ul-Zuha. It is also a violation of the UN charter. It was not hanging but it was murder of a leader who believed in secularism," he said.

"Saddam's execution was against the sentiments of the people in the world. It is just the beginning of a more serious and bigger problem in West Asia as well as the world. All those who believe in democracy would condemn the act," Prof Singh said.

Panthers Party leader said tension in West Asia would increase with the execution.

Terming the execution "barbaric", Prof Singh, also a lawyer, said the trial was a farce and the verdict to hang Saddam, a judicial assault as the country was under US-British military occupation."(UNI)

Rows, dissidence dog BJP as it crawls back to Hindutva

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: It was back-to-basics for beleaguered BJP that retrieved Ayodhya from the back burner at the end of 2006 in an attempt to erase its bad patch.

Reviving its core Hindutva issues -- Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 and the common civil code -- the main Opposition banked on these pet subjects to gain centrestage once again via Uttar Pradesh.

"The road to the Centre goes via Lucknow," was the refrain of BJP leaders out to salvage the party from a crisis in arguable one of its worst years since its inception in 1980 as it continued to grapple with infighting and oneupmanship among leadership.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee expressed hope that it would be "luck now" after the recent national council meeting of the BJP in the capital of Uttar Pradesh, which had brought glory to the saffron party during the past decade and a half.

Almost nothing worked well for the party that suffered a loss of power in Jharkhand and a blow in the death of its most promising second-rung leader Pramod Mahajan.

The Sangh appeared set to tighten its grip on the party as RSS-backed chief Rajnath Singh secured a full three-year term in the post and brought amendments in the party constitution to enable entry of more "full timers" of RSS as assistants to the organisation general secretary.

As Singh declared at the party's Lucknow conclave that the BJP would introduce legislation enabling construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya if voted back to power with full majority at the Centre, his predecessor L K Advani called the issue an "unfulfilled desire".

Symbolising BJP's moderate face, Vajpayee sought Muslim support for the party's electoral battle in key Uttar Pradesh.

But throughout the year, the party struggled with controversies.

At the helm of affairs at the Centre for six years till 2004, it, at times in 2006 looked so powerless that even the staunchest of its supporters wondered what hit the BJP that nade it look worse off than in 1984 -- the year it could win just four seats in the Lok Sabha polls after Indira Gandhi's assassination.

The question when the lotus will bloom again haunted it especially in the light of upcoming Assembly elections in several states, especially Uttar Pradesh, once its launchpad to national power.

This time, the job is tough for the party in Uttar Pradesh as it attempts to reach out to its lost constituency in the state where regional parties like the SP and the BSP are currently the dominant force.

The year 2006 began on a sour note for the BJP with veteran Advani forced to leave the presidentship of the party on December 31 last year in the backdrop of the Jinnah row and was replaced by Rajnath Singh.

Singh's term as interim president of the main Opposition party, however, saw expulsion of several senior leaders mainly for their outbursts against his predecessor Advani.

Madan Lal Khurana and Sangh Priya Gautam were out of the party as they attacked Advani accusing him of sidelining them and joined expelled leader Uma Bharati's Delhi rally in March.

Bharati, a former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, launched her own party based on RSS ideology in April, posing a challenge to the BJP in the state under its control.

In Jharkhand, the fall of Chief Minister Arjun Munda was also partly blamed on discord in BJP as party insiders said a party lobby opposed to him had worked against him.

Earlier this year, the BJP projected its rise to power in Karnataka as its emergence as a political force in south India.

But within months, trouble erupted with its ally Janata Dal (Secular) as a BJP MLC levelled corruption charges against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In a damage-control exercise, the BJP suspended the the MLC but the word spread rapidly that he had been following directions from a senior leader in the party.

Party sources admit undercurrent of strains still exist between the two allian Zia slammed her rival for destroying the country to serve "masters" while her son Tarique Rahman, contesting polls for the first time, reportedly hinted that the Awami League and its allies were working on the directives of a nearby country, apparently India.

The anti-India card has been a popular election weapon for the BNP-led alliance with many people, specially those in border areas, having sentiments against the neighbouring country due to shootouts at the frontier with India's Border Security Force (BSF).

The Awami League is perceived to be a friend of India because of the 1971 independence war which was led by the party under the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and backed by New Delhi.

Islam has been the other favourite card for polls, but this time around the Awami League has been able to take a number of Islamic groups in its fold, including the controversial Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish under Shaikul Hadis Azizul Haque.

The media has welcomed the all-party polls, but no one can predict whether there would be smooth sailing for Bangladesh after the voting is over.

The BJP found some occasions to celebrate as its candidates won by-elections in Vidisha Lok Sabha and Bada Malehra Assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh in the face of challenge mainly from Uma Bharati.

Also, election of former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussein from Bhagalpur in Bihar, where Muslims make up a large population, gave the party an opportunity to project the success as a sign of its support-base in the community ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls.

In 2006, the party staunchly opposed moves to designate the Aligarh Muslim University as a minority institution and to allow religion-based reservations in Andhra Pradesh.

The BJP also found another opportunity with the Central directive on singing of Vande Mataram, which led the saffron party to remark that those opposed to singing of the national song should rather leave the country.

On his part, Rajnath Singh promised a constitutional amendment to bring Vande Mataram on a par with the national flag.

In line with its renewed hawkish policies, BJP opposed resumption of peace talks with Pakistan in the wake of the July 11 Mumbai train bombings and also spoke about "hot pursuit" to destroy cross-border terror camps. (PTI)

Congress dilemma on role for Rahul continues

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Even as speculation persisted all through the year 2006 about Congress MP Rahul Gandhi being inducted into the AICC, the Congress leadership appeared to be in a dilemma, unable to decide the role to be assigned to him in the party set up.

Amid the pressure from a section of the Congress workers across the country for launching him wholehog in the national politics, and the varying suggestions from senior party leaders for some responsibility to be entrusted to him either in the party or in the Government, the Congress High Command kept postponing the matter waiting for the right moment to take the decision.

The initial reaction of Mr Gandhi to the demand for his playing a more active role in national politics left no one in doubt that the young MP was reluctant to take the plunge and that he was content performing the role of an MP, nursing his constituency in Amethi. Seen by many as the future Prime Minster, he visits his constituency every now and then and interacts with the people, often attacking the Mulayam Singh Government for its alleged non-performance.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's open praise of Mr Gandhi's ability as a campaign manager for her in a byelection in her Rae Bareli Parliamentary constituency, which re-elected her as an MP with a massive margin, as also her indication that he would be given some responsibility in the party shortly led to talk about his joining the AICC as a General Secretary.

Such speculation was further fuelled when Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, during his recent visit to Varanasi, expressed the view that Mr Gandhi should be projected as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in the Assembly elections to be held early next year. However, the Congress did not take the suggestion of its RJD ally seriously.

Meanwhile, the long-pending reshuffle of the AICC to fill up the vacancies caused by some of its office bearers shifting to the Government as Ministers is repeatedly being put off as the proposed reshuffle is linked to Mr Rahul Gandhi likely to be inducted as a General Secretary. According to indications available the reshuflle and the simultaneous induction of Mr Gandhi into the AICC is unlikely to take place until after the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.

The year passing by was an eventful one for the ruling Congress party. The Congress appeared to be confident of completing its five year term in power, having already been half way through it.

Barring the TRS which quit the UPA on Telangana issue,the ruling Congress Party during the year in question managed to keep its flock of UPA coalition partners together. In spite of the occasional pinpricks by the Left parties,supporting the Government from outside, the Congress managed to ensure its continued support to keep the UPA Government going.

The Congress-led coalition Government in Karnataka fell making the way for a JD(S)-BJP coalition Government while the Congress lost another of its party-ruled state, Kerala, in the Assembly elections making the way for the CPI-M.

Although heading a coalition Government at the Centre for the first time,the Congress seemed to have learnt the art of accommodating the viewpoints and the needs of its allies while sticking to its principled stand on issues in conformity with the CMP. It sought to resolve the ticklish issues through dialogue and discussion when it found that the allies had different and opposing agenda on any issue.

The Congress held its first plenary session after it formed a coalition Government at the Centre at Hyderabad in January. It specified its commitment to a coalition Govenment of like-minded secular parties. The party hoped that its allies would air their differences within the parameters of coalition dharma. The party also reiterated its resolve to continue its policy of econcomic reforms with a human face.

Mrs Gandhi continued her practice of holding Congress Chief Ministers Conclave to monitor the performance of the States in implementation of the party manifesto, which was started by her during the NDA regime, A Congress Chief Ministers conclave was held in Nainital, attended among others by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides Ms Gandhi and 14 Congress Chief Ministers. The Conclave deliberated on agrarian crisis and internal security.

Concerned over the rising prices, Ms Gandhi called a meeting of Congress Chief Ministers in Delhi and discussed with them the strategy to be adopted to contain the rising prices. The meeting,also attended by Dr Manmohan Singh, decided that strict action would be taken against hoarders and black marketeers. It sought the cooperation of the Congress-ruled State Governments in not passing on the hike in petroleum prices to the consumers.

In the Assembly elections held in W Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Asom and Punducheri,the Congress returned to power in Asom and Punducheri while it supported the DMK in forming a Government in Tamil Nadu.

The party observed, in October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the centenary of the Satygraha, started by the Mahatma in South Africa hundred years ago against the racist policy of the British colonial empire.The Congress organised several activities connected with Gandhian philosphy during the year.

The ruling Congress Party faced an embarrassment when the Congress and a long time associate of Nehru -Gandhi family Natwar Singh, former External Affairs Minister, were accused of being beneficiaries of the Iraqi Oil for Food scam in the Volcker Committee report.The Justice Pathak Committee,constituted by the Union Govenment to go into the charges levelled by the Volcker Committee,found Mr Singh guilty of misusing his position to secure oil contracts for the associates of his son.

Mr Natwar Singh was subsequently suspended from the party by its Disciplinary Committee, headed by Mr A K Antony. Mr Singh later turned rebellious threatening to spill the beans and challenging the party to expel him.

Ms Gandhi resigned from her Parliamentary seat of Rae Bareli and from the post of Chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC) upon her name figuring in the Office of Profit controversy. Her stand was vindicated when she romped home as an MP in a by-election from Rae Bareli with a massive margin of victory of four lakh votes.

As the Congress-led UPA Government completed the first half of its five year tenure last month,the Congress claimes it had substantially fulfilled many of the promises made in the party's election manifesto that were subsequently incorporated into the National Common Minimum Porgamme of the UPA.

Ms Sonia Gandhi in a letter to Congress workers claimed that the party had strengthened the secular foundations of governance. The party had got increased significantly Government spending in critical areas like elementary education, nutrition, public health, rural infrastructure and urban basic services.

The Congress-led Government, according to Ms Gandhi, had launched many far reaching programmes, most important of them being the National Rural Employment Gurantee Act.

"It is time now to consolidate our achievements," Ms Gandhi said."Our party organisation has to propagate these initiatives of our Govennment by mobilising people and getting actively involved in implementation."

The party claimed credit for having got enacted by Parliament several important legislations including OBC reservation in educational institutions,tribal forest rights bill, and prevention of child marriage bill.

Ms Gandhi called upon the PCCs and DCCs to organise conventions regularly to highlight the legislative accomplishments of the party to create awareness among the people.

Meanwhile, the party has geared up its machinery for the Assembly elections to be held in four states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab and Manipur, three of which are Congress-ruled states. A good showing by the party in Uttar Pradesh, the largest state having 80 Lok Sabha seats,is crucial for the Congress to be able to come back to power at the Centre in the next General Elections. (UNI)

Tourists throng Goa in lakhs; security stepped up

PANAJI, Dec 30: Security has been strengthened in Goa in the wake of terror threats, as lakhs of tourists, including foreigners and some high-profile visitors, have descended at the coastal state to party to usher in New Year.

Hotels and restaurants have been decorated with lights and special menus are being prepared to attract the customers.

Gun-wielding Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Goa Police personnel have been posted at major beaches.

"We are frisking or scanning visitors... We are doing it for your own security," a senior police officer told PTI.

CISF personnel, summoned during recent International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here, were retained in the state for maintaining the security alongwith 3,000 Goa policemen.

With the Tourism Department giving an official figure of four lakh domestic leisure-seekers, alongwith 20,000 foreign tourists, holidaying in the state, the roads are almost choked with traffic.

Some traffic restrictions like one-way passage on roads leading to beaches and no-parking zones along the lanes, have been made to ease congestion, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Atmaram Deshpande said.

The traffic police have also requisitioned additional hands from Escort Cell and Tourist Police Cell.

While tourists and fun-seekers would be partying throughout the night on December 31, midnight masses would be held at 140 churches and chapels in the state.

The prayers would begin at 11.30 pm and culminate into celebrations as traditional New Year dances are organised by various clubs across the state after the mass.

Panaji's century old club -- Clube Nacional-- would hold a 'red and black' dance behind Adilshah Palace in the heart of the city on this occasion.

Airport sources said bigwigs have already started arriving in the coastal state with the first one to be sighted being Gandhi siblings -- Priyanka and Rahul-- along with Priyanka's husband Robert Vadhera.

"Ambani brothers Anil and Mukesh would arrive by special flights today while business tycoon Vijya Mallya is also scheduled to arrive today or tomorrow," airport sources said.

Mallya would organise a party at his residence 'Kingfisher' at Candolim village in north Goa, which is considered one of the best among high-profile parties, attended by filmstars, politicians and celebrities, many of them ferried by private jets.

The media has been kept away from the party, citing security and privacy reasons.

Common tourists in Goa, however, is having good times on the sandy beaches.

With the accomodations all booked, many tourists are seen spending nights at gardens, bus stands, railway stations and other public places. Panaji footpaths are full with low-end domestic tourists occupying them to spend the chilly nights. (PTI)

Govt gives media a scare in 2006

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Fear of Government controls came to haunt the Indian media in 2006, a year which saw the much- resisted CAS finally moving toward roll-out and the struggling FM radio sector literally boom.

Just as media rode high on popular public support to sting operations, especially those exposing MPs allegedly accepting money for raising questions or for diverting funds from MPLAD schemes, came a shocker when reports surfaced that the Government was working on a bill that would effectively curtail media's independence.

The Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill 2006, a draft of which came in the hands of the media, was aimed at giving sweeping powers to the Government to take control and manage private broadcasting channels in certain eventualities.

The Bill also gave powers to "authorised officers to inspect, search and seize equipment" of media in case of any violation.

The proposal, for obvious reasons, saw the media cry foul forcing the Government to not only keep introduction of the Bill in abeyance but also invite suggestions from media industry on a new draft bill it issued with some modifications.

Another issue that saw the Ministry on a sticky wicket was related to the issue of on-screen smoking, which Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss refused to give up. Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi clearly looked uneasy in a balancing act, especially as the film industry and Censor Board Chief made a case for what they termed creative freedom.

The issue remains unresolved and going by the magnitude of controversy it could create, the Ministry seems happy with the vagueness associated the matter.

Controversies apart, 2006 was also a year that saw one of the broadcasting sector's most contentious issues -- Conditional Access System, infamous as CAS -- move toward implementation.

A brainchild of erstwhile BJP-led NDA government, the roll-out of cable TV delivery system in notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata had been in limbo for last three years or so, except for Chennai where it was implemented with little success.

After Delhi High Court refused to buy government pleas that its implementation should be delayed for some more time, the Government was left with no option but to order its roll-out from the New Year.

A favourable Rs 5 rate per pay channel, ordered by TRAI for CAS areas also seems to be an enabling factor for roll-out of the new system.

But if any issue for which the Government needs to pat itself, it was the way it sold FM radio stations in second phase of bidding, primarily led by positive policy measures.

After the first round of allotments ended in disaster and losses for the very-few operating FM radio companies, the Government relaxed the policy framework, shifting to a revenue share regime.

In fact, the Government even liberalised the sector and allowed 20 per cent FDI in FM radio, another positive for the industry.

The Government was able to sell about 280 radio stations in around 91 cities across the country, earning a good Rs 1,145 crore as revenue by way of one-time entry fee from new players and migration fee from those already in operation.

Spread over five rounds, Phase II of licensing saw not only existing players like the Times Group, Music Broadcast and Radio Mid-Day clamouring for new cities, but also new entrants like Adlabs of Anil Ambani and HT Music and Entertainment win licenses.

Another area where Government's efforts in the year were directed was on the issue of ensuring feed of sporting events, especially cricket, to cash-crunched Prasar Bharati.

After some of the private broadcasters refused to share feed with Doordarshan, the Government made clear that it would introduce a Bill in the Parliament that would pave the way for a legislation on the matter, making it binding on private broadcasters to share the feed in events of "national interest".

Talking about cricket, the vexed issue of BCCI's cricket telecast rights -- which landed more in courts rather than in a broadcaster's pockets -- was finally resolved. Nimbus stumped established players like ESPN-Star and Zee to bag the four-year global media rights for a staggering 612 million dollars, putting an end to constant bickering over the matter.

On the corporate side, 2006 looked like the year for expansion announcements by media companies. NDTV announced plans for expanding beyond news and also beyond India. These included more channels, including entertainment and metro-centric.

Raghav Behl's TV18 network also moved ahead on the path of expansion. The company, which said it will diversify into film production and distribution, also bought a controlling stake in Jagran's hindi news channel, that has now been rechristened IBN7.

Toward the end of the year, the company purchased business news wire, Crisil Market Wire, strengthening its news gathering network.

The Zee group, one of the India's oldest media and entertainment group, also was in an expansion mode as the company bought a stake in Dubai-based Taj Television, owners of sports channel Ten Sports. The group also got the telecast rights for Indian cricket team's matches in non-ICC countries.

Zee, through an investment company Media Vest, was also in the news for takeover of domestic news wire United News of India (UNI), though the issue has landed in the Company Law Board after protest from some of the existing shareholders.

A significant development toward the end of the year, on the media side, was the 50:50 joint venture memorandum of understanding between rivals HT Media and The Times of India Group to jointly publish a newspaper in Delhi.

The companies said the joint venture would draw strength from the competencies of both Groups, allowing them to work together to efficiently grow an exciting and nascent market. (PTI)

10 pc reservation for Service Sector in Urban areas

MYSORE, Dec 30: The Karnataka Government will bring in necessary amendment to the Urban Land Ceiling Act to reserve 10 per cent of the land to the Service Sectors in the Urban areas, Minister for Housing D T Jayakumar said today.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that the amendment would be moved in the Winter Session of the Assembly beginning from January 25.

The amendment would help the people in the Service Sector who were deprived of house in Urban areas. Houses would be provided at subsidised rates. It would also help in eradicating Slums in the Urban areas.

He said that next month identification of beneficiaries under Ashraya Housing Scheme would be taken up by each Grama Panchayat and submit the list of beneficiaries by January 31 and houses would be distributed by March end. The Government has decided to provide 7.28 lakh house during this year at a cost of Rs 900 Crore. Already Rs 300 Crore released for the first phase of the project.

Mr Jayakumar said that according to a survey conducted in 2003, there were nearly 13.5 lakh house less people and 12 lakhs were site less in the State. The Government proposes to provide them both house and sites to all in another three years time. "The Government proposes to make the State Slum less by 2015", he added. (UNI)

Sarpanch votes against self

BETUL, MP, Dec 30: In a bizzare incident, a village sarpanch voted in favour of a 'no confidence' motion brought against him.

"It happened due to my ignorance as I was voted out 14-0" said Yashwant Mogrekar after the voting at Parsoda village in this district yesterday.

Tahsildar G C Daheria, who presided over the voting, declared the 'no confidence' motion passed 14-0. Besides the sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and other panchs took part in the voting. (UNI)

Metro to curtail services on New Year's eve

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: On New Year's eve tomorrow, the Delhi Metro will curtailits services on Line 2 and 3 which connect Rajiv Chowk to North Delhi and West Delhi respectively.

The curtailment of services is to ensure the safety of commuters and Metro property from any violent incidents on New Years Eve, a spokesperson of the DMRC said.

"Train services on Lines 2 and 3 of the Delhi Metro will be curtailed on December 31 to ensure the safety of commuters and Metro property from any incidents of vandalism on New Years Eve," a spokeperson of the DMRC said.

Services on Line-1 (Shahdara to Rithala) will, however, remain unaffected and continue from 0600 hrs to 2200 hrs as usual, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said all services on Line-2 (Vishwa Vidyalaya to Central Secretariat) will stop at 2000 hrs tomorrow. The last trains from Vishwa Vidyalaya and Central Secretariat will start at 1942 hrs and 1954 hrs respectively.

On Line-3 (Indraprastha to Dwarka Sector-9), normal services will stop at 2000 hrs, the spokesperson said.

Thus, the last train from Dwarka Sector-9 to Indraprastha will start at 1906 hrs while the last train from Indraprastha to Dwarka Sector-9 will start at 1947 hrs.

However, after 2000 hrs (8.00 pm), full normal services on Line-3 will continue to be available between Dwarka Sector-9 and Karol Bagh till 2200 hrs.(UNI)

Breakaway Hurriyat Conference
condemns execution of Saddam Hussein

SRINAGAR, Dec 30: The breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) in Jammu and Kashmir has strongly condemned the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

A spokesman of the HC said the execution of Saddam was more political than judicial.

He said Saddam was not given an opportunity to defend himself in a case 'fabricated' on the directions of the United States.

He said the US government wanted to eliminate Saddam which it did through the present 'puppet government' in Iraq.

The defence lawyers were either killed or threatened and judges were changed to influence the verdict against Saddam, he said, adding it exposed the US policy against Muslim nations.

The spoksman claimed the defence lawyers were not given an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses which showed least respect for the Judiciary in that country, ruled indirectly by the US through its Army commanders. (UNI)