Military Intelligence Corps celebrates its 64th anniversary

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1: The Corps of Military Intelligence celebrated its 64th anniversary with the traditional pomp and gaiety keeping in line with the high traditions and values of the Indian Army at Chandimandir today.

A defence release said that to mark the occasion, a wholesome entertainment programme was organised for all ranks followed by a Barakhana which was attended by the serving and retired officers, JCOs and other ranks of the intelligence fraternity and their families.

It was a well attended function where retired Intelligence Corps officers including Maj Gen (retd) J S Kang, Brig. (retd) B S Bajwa, Brig, (retd) Sarbjit Singh along with many others revived their old memories and the spirit of camaraderle was prevalent all around with the old intelligencers mingling with the new.

Brig S P Singh,BGs (Int) while extending his greetins to all the officers, JCOs, other ranks and thier families of the corps, urged them to continue to work with dedication, zeal, enthusiasm and alacrity in the true spirit of the hallowed corps’ motto, "Sada Satark".

He particularly emphasized the need to keep pace with the rapid advancement in technology and its application in various fields of intelligence.

He further stated that all ranks of the corps had time and again proved their mettie both during was and peace while combating the enemy on the borders ormeeting the threat in the proxy wars and counter terrorism olperations. He conveyed hearties congratulations to all ground level in operator who have done the corps proud. (PTI)

India to promote clean energy technologies

NEW DELHI, Nov 1: India today joined five countries, including the US and Japan, under the ‘Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on clean development and climate’ to encourage clean energy technologies.

Under the industry-oriented partnership, the member nations — India, Australia, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States — will facilitate nearly 100 individual projects.

The projects are aimed at meeting goals for energy security, air pollution reduction and climate change in ways that promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction, Secretary for Environment and Forests Prodipto Ghosh told reporters here.

Eight public-private taskforces have been set up in the sectors of cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy and distributed generation, power generation and transmission, steel, aluminum, cement, coal mining and, building and appliances, he said.

"We have formulated 8 Action Plans involving all the identified sectors and India has identified certain projects in the coal and steel sectors," Ghosh said.

"India has prepared and proposed seven projects in the fields of mining techniques and coal preparation technology," S P Seth, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal said.

Officials from the Ministry of Steel said they had finalised projects with Japan which would be taken up under the partnership.

Ghosh said the task forces would review the current state of technology in terms of cost, performance, market share and barriers with regard to clean development and climate.

They would also identify specific opportunities for cooperation including with relevant international financial organisations, he said.

India is the co-chair on the Taskforces on Steel and Coal Mining.

The partners countries have agreed to a tentative time-bound schedule of activities and to review the progress of the work at the ministerial level in 2007.(PTI)

Mayawati to launch poll campaign in Punjab from Nov 30

JALANDHAR, Nov 1: The national general secretary of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Narender Kashyap today revealed that party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati would address a +maha rally+ here on November 30.

+Mayawati will launch party’s poll campaign in Punjab by addressing a maha rally at Bhagwan pur village on Nakodar road here on November 30+, Kashyap, who was here to take meeting of the office bearers of state wing of the party, told reporters.

He claimed that as many as 10 lakh people were expected to attend the rally which would create political waive in favour of his party for the forthcoming Assembly election.

Asked whether there was any possibility of alliance with any other political party in the state, kashyap reiterated that party president has already decided not to have any alliance with any of the political party in the state and party would contest all 117 Assembly segments on its own.

+BSP is strong enough to contest Assembly poll in Punjab on its own and it is sure that balance of power will lie with BSP after poll results are come out+, Kashyap added.

Since both Congress and SAD-BJP combine has already proved big failure on the expectation of people, they were waiting a suitable political alternative, which BSP has provided them. (PTI)

Aishwarya celebrates 33rd birthday

^{MUMBAI, Nov 1: India’s ambassador to international cinema and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai today celebrated her 33rd birthday, with the screening of her latest Hindi movie "Umrao Jaan" and a visit to a temple.}

^{"Aishwarya ushered in her birthday at midnight with a screening of "Umrao Jaan", organised by the film’s director J P Dutta and was obviously thrilled to be watching the results of six months of hard work," Rai’s business manager Hari Singh told PTI here.}

^{"She visited the Siddhivinayak temple this morning and will spend the day attending to phone calls, SMS’s and emails by her friends, relatives and numerous fans. Since she has not been here for the last few years on her birthdays, she is making the most of it and spending time with her family," he said.}

^{Rai has been seen in public after a long absence, promoting her forthcoming film "Umrao Jaan," in which she plays the lead role with Abhishek Bachchan.}

^{The anticipation for the movie has been heightened after speculation in the media that she and Abhishek were set to replicate their romance in real life as well and would be tying the knot.}

^{The past year has been an exciting one for Aishwarya, with the release of two of her international movies, including "Mistress of Spices" and Jagmohan Mundhra’s "Provoked."}

^{The actor also has several high profile releases to look forward to this year, with ‘Dhoom 2’ releasing a month after ‘Umrao Jaan’, which hits the theatres this Friday. (PTI)}

Ban on holding anti-Govt seminars in Manipur

IMPHAL, Nov 1: The Manipur Government will not allow the holding of anti-Government seminars, conferences or functions in official buildings, a circular said today.

Premises or facilities of Government buildings are primarily meant for bona fide official use and it should be ensured that the buildings are not used as a platform against the Government, said the circular which was also issued to the press.

The Government, however, had no objection to the use of its buildings by private parties for socio-cultural and educational purposes, it said.

Officials said the circular was issued in the wake of the use of Government buildings or halls by several social organisations in recent months for holding seminars, conferences or exhibitions on human rights violations in Manipur under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

These seminars, conferences or exhibitions criticised the government and security forces for allegedly violating human rights and killing innocent citizens in the name of tracking insurgents, they said.

The circular dated October 30 and signed by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh asked heads of all offices and institutions to ensure proper scrutiny of organisers and theme or content of conferences or seminars before permitting them to use Government buildings.

Premises of Gandhi Memorial Hall, J N M Dance Academy Hall, Bhagyachandra Open Air theatre, Youth Centre, Women War Memorial Complex (all in Imphal) and government educational institutions would not be allowed to be used as platforms against the government, the officials said.

A spokesman of human rights groups-Human Rights Alert and North East Network said they had sought permission for using J N M Dance Academy Hall for holding a seminar on "Continuing hunger strike of Irom Sharmila" on October 31.

The authorities did not allow the use of the premises, he said. (PTI)

Traders welcome Centre’s decision
to expand Nathula trade list

GANGTOK, Nov 1: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) today welcomed the Centre’s decision to revise and expand the list of items for trade with China through the Nathula pass in east Sikkim.

"This has been one of our major demands since the opening of the trade-route in July this year and it is good that it has been accepted," chamber president S K Sarda told PTI.

Terming the existing import-export list as "ridiculously outdated", Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had assured trade representatives during his recent visit to the state that the list would soon be revised and expanded in consultation with the Chinese authorities.

"The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), which is working on a fresh list to expand the trade basket, would make its submissions to the ministry in a couple of days," he had said earlier.

These would be finalised when Chinese president Hu Jin Tao visits Delhi in November, he said.

Sarda said extension of the trading season from April to November and removal of the present cap of Rs 25,000 on daily transaction for each trader would also prove beneficial.

"Once these impediments are removed, trade volume through the route is bound to rise substantially by the next season," Sarda said. (PTI)

Somnath for separation of powers of organs of democracy

BANGALORE, Nov 1: In the backdrop of a raging debate on judicial activism, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today said recent judicial interventions had not been limited to executive action and had extended to issues of policy and matters under the purview of other organs of the state.

Emphasising the strict adherence to principles for the separation of powers of various organs of democracy as enshrined in the Constitution, he said these wings should function in harmony with each other rather than in conflict.

"Of late judicial interventions are not limited to matters of executive action, but even issues of policy and matters which are otherwise in the exclusive jurisdiction of the other organs of state are now included in its purview," he said in his address at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka High Court.

"In my humble view, it is essential for all organs of the state and institutions including the judiciary to have a clear and unambiguous role perception; otherwise there is a serious risk of entering into arenas which are otherwise clearly assigned to other branches of the Government," he said in an apparent reference to judicial activism.

"It is a universally recognised judicial maxim that courts should refrain from adjudicating issues or passing judgments on matters that would involve superintendence by the court itself or what Justice Brennan called matter that cannot be adjudicated by judicially manageable standards."

Chatterjee remarked that "it would augur well for our system and serve the cause of effective and speedy justice delivery...If the principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution are duly kept in mind".

The Speaker said while dealing with public interest litigations, the judiciary often gets involved in the constitutionally defined domains of jurisdiction of other organs of Government.

In this context, he said, "In the process, the contours of separation of powers, clearly provided in our Constitution and essential for the smooth functioning of the system, get blurred and the Constitutional balance comes under strain."

Favouring the setting up of circuit benches of the Supreme Court in at least three metropolitan cities and of a suitable number of benches of state High Courts at appropriate places, he disapproved of resistance to such proposals on the ground that it would affect the integrity and unitary character of courts and lead to unsettled jurisdiction.

"To me these reasons are unconvincing and seen from the angle of the magnitude of the problem of case arrears, advantages for the people would far outweigh the perceived difficulties," he said, adding such initiatives help in taking justice delivery nearer to the people.

Chatterjee called on the judiciary to devise a definite action plan for time-bound clearance of arrears in courts and to devote attention to facilitating access to the higher judiciary for the common man and at an affordable cost.

Lauding the work of fast track courts, he said the recent initiative had produced results as 1,600 of these courts had disposed of eight lakh cases out of the 15.28 lakh cases entrusted to them.

He wanted steps to fill up vacant posts of judges, noting that of the sanctioned strength of 675 judges in high courts, 121 were lying vacant on January 20, 2006. (PTI)

White House urged to accord top priority to Indo-US deal

WASHINGTON, Nov 1: Amidst concerns that various legislations competing for floor time will squeeze out the Indo-US nuclear bill during the lame-duck session of the US Senate next week, an Indo-American organisation has said the White House should demonstrate its commitment to the deal by according it top priority.

The Coalition for Partnership with India has identified two "immediate hurdles" to getting floor time in the Senate and suggested that the Republicans and Democrats work together to clear the bill.

"Democratic leaders particularly Senator Harry Reid and Senator Joseph Biden and their staffs must identify, analyse, and eliminate duplicates among the 18 amendments proposed to date by Members on their side of the aisle.

"The Democratic leaders and their staffs must work with their Republican counterparts to identify amendments that are non-controversial and can be adopted without debate. Once the number of amendments is reduced to a certain, manageable number, a meaningful discussion for floor time must commence with Senator Frist," the Coalition said in a statement.

It said the White House must signal that the India is a priority.

"We are concerned that other legislation competing for floor time will squeeze ours off the calendar. Ten appropriations bills are on the agenda. It is critical that the White House demonstrate its commitment to the India bill by making it a top priority," the Coalition said urging all supporters of the deal to make sure their voices are heard.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has assured the External Affairs Minister that the administration would try its best to get Congressional approval for the nuclear deal. Efforts are also on to get the assistance of the Office of the Vice President.

A recent meeting took place between Dr Jaishankar, Joint Secretary in the Americas Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and Samantha Ravich, the Vice President Dick Cheney’s deputy national security adviser.

Meanwhile, the Indian American Security Leadership Council, a bi-partisan organization created to encourage closer ties between India and America, has announced that it is expanding their grassroots efforts to educate five key US states on the US & India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act;and to try and get the Senate Bill out of the way prior to the end of the 2006 legislative session.

"We believe that India, the world’s largest democracy with over half a century of electoral stability, is a growing military and economic force in the region, and can help safeguard American security in a way that no other country in the region can," Ramesh Kapur, Founder and president of the organization, said in a statement.

"To that end, we are now taking our message to states that have Senators key to making this national security issue a priority before the end of the year."

The Leadership Council is planning its activities in the states of California, Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico and Nevada. (PTI)

Kut festival celebrated in Manipur

IMPHAL, Nov 1: ‘Kut’, harvesting festival of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of people, was today celebrated in Manipur with Governor S S Sidhu as the chief guest at a function held at First Manipur Rifles ground here.

Manipur minister for health D K Korungthang and minister for tribal development T Phungzathang were the guests of honour and functional president of the function which was attended by a huge number of people.

Cultural programmes like dances of different tribes Aimol, Chiru Chothe, Hmar, Kom, Maring, Lamkhang, Paite, Simte, Tarao, Thadou-Kuki, Thangkhal and others were performed, a spokesman of the state level Kut committee, which organised the function, said.

Reports from districts said Kut was also celebrated in different interior districts where Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of people inhabit. (PTI)

HC refuses to stay Umrao Jaan’s release
for recovery of dues

MUMBAI, Nov 1: The Bombay High Court today refused to stay the release of Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan-starrer film "Umrao Jaan" on a petition seeking dues of Rs 7.5 lakh for post-production work.

Vacation Judge V M Kanade said he was deferring the hearing to November 8 before a regular bench as the court felt that there was no urgency in the matter.

The movie is slated for an all India release on November 3.

RajTaru studios had filed a petition seeking recovery of Rs 7.5 lakh due for post production work of "Umrao Jaan" and also asked for a stay on the film’s release.

The petitioner contended that on earlier occasions also the producer of the film, J P Dutta, had not settled post production dues for his films "Refugee" and "LOC-Kargil" and paid only Rs 10 lakh as part payment towards the same.

The petitioner further said it had approached the Association of Motion Pictures Studios which appointed a Dispute Settlement Committee to look into the issue.

The Committee had directed J P Dutta to pay the dues but the payment had not been received so far, he said.

Seeking a stay on "Umrao Jaan", the petitioner raised an apprehension that if the film failed at the box office and in case the producer suffered losses, then they would not get their dues and hence insisted on payment of dues before the release of the film. (PTI)

Five teachers dismissed for trimming students’ hair

UDAIPUR, RAJASTHAN, Nov 1: Five teachers of a school here, including the principal and vice-principal, were today dismissed from service by the institution’s management for allegedly giving a mass hair cut to students, a school official said.

Three teachers, including Vice Principal Indubala Khosla, were arrested yesterday following registration of an FIR by an affected student and released on bail late last night, Superintendent of Police Dinesh M N told PTI.

Principal Godawari Purohit, Khosla and three teachers-Firdos Pathan, Dheeraj Chajer and Maheshwari Kaushik-of the Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School were dismissed after infuriated parents and students complained about the forced hair cuts, said G S Bedi, secretary of the school management committee.

About 50 students of Classes VII to XII, who had long hair and did not follow earlier instructions to shorten it, were spotted during the school assembly yesterday and given a hair cut, school sources said.

The incident came to light after a Class VIII student Devesh Sahu filed an FIR in the Bhupalpura police station. Apart from the vice principal, the other teachers released on bail were Chajer and Pathan, the police said.

Meanwhile, the district administration instituted a six-member committee, headed by City Magistrate B S Panwar, to probe the incident, which has caused widespread anger.

Meanwhile, hundreds of students demonstrated outside the school gate this morning, expressing their solidarity with the teachers and demanding that they be reinstated as they acted to maintain discipline.

However, the parents of the students, who were given the hair cut, strongly condemned the action, calling it arbitrary and saying that the administration should have informed them to avoid embarrassment and humiliation of their children. (PTI)

Tim Wonnacott and the art of auctioneering

NEW DELHI, Nov 1: Auctioneering is not just about calling the highest bids and pounding the hammer at the end of a bid, it is art in itself and requires quite a few qualities to succeed, says celebrity British auctioneer, art expert and media personality Tim Wonnacott.

"An auctioneer should have the knowledge of whatever is being auctioned, he should be sharp, numerate and quick-witted too to handle unforseen situations," Wonnacott says talking about the qualities of a good auctioneer. "An auctioneer’s job is to keep the audience engaged and encourage further bids," he told PTI on the sidelines of ‘Modern and Contemporary Indian Art’ auction which was held here recently.

Wonnacott who comes from a family of auctioneers should know it. "Auctioneering is in my genes. Three generations of my family were into it and one thing I did different from my family was I went to study art, only to come back again," he says.

After twenty-five years with an international auction house, Wonnacott decided to ply his trade of knowing art and antiques to an audience beyond the sellers and buyers, and today he hosts two popular television shows "Bargain Hunt" and "Antiques Roadshow" to his credit.

"These shows are for commoners who love antiques and art. We travel a lot to make these shows and look for the best bargains that people can go to and buy," he says.

According to Wonnacott, art is not about experts and the wealthy. "Art is not just for the connoissuers, when one sees an art object and feels a bump in the heart, that’s the love for the art, not the philosophy or the analysis or the money associated with it" he says.

Talking about the art and auction scene in India, Wonnacott feels that people in India may soon follow West’s ‘herd mentality.’ "People in the West think, ‘okay, everybody is buying art, let me also buy.’ I think the same mentality will come to India, and then there will be an explosion in the prices of art and antiques," he says.

Wonnacott thinks that the Indian art is still underrated within India and it provides good investment opportunities for the future.

"The recent trend of Indian art works being sold for astronomical sums in the West points to the fact that westerners are increasingly looking at Indian art a bit more seriously than before," he says.

Being from a traditional auctioneer family, Wonnacott feels that advances in technology have taken some charm off of the auctions. Talking about bidding over the telephone, he says, "Telephone bidding is a different animal altogether. It slows down the tempo of a show, but then these days, the uber-rich want to buy surreptiously, so they prefer it."

Recalling an auction of objects of former First Lady of US, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, he says that there were as many as 93 telephones with operators speaking to bidders in twelve different languages from all over the world! "It absolutely slowed down the proceedings and it was one of those very few days when I felt that standing at the lectern was not such an exciting job," says Wonnacott.

Of all the various kinds of auctions Wonnacott does, he says that he gets greatest joy in doing charities. "It is here that I can use wit and impress the rich and encourage them to part with their money for some of the most worthiest causes," he says. (PTI)