Aircraft institute asked to refund
fee for misleading students

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: A consumer forum has directed an institute to refund fees of two students who were misled into taking admission in a certificate course believing it to be a bachelor degree course and held it guilty of "unfair trade practice".

The Indian Institute of Aircraft (IIA) "misled her by misrepresenting that it was holding course for bachelor in aeronautical engineering though there was no such course being run by them and hence, Mita Sengupta (complainant) was justified in withdrawing her daughters," the forum bench headed by president S L Khanna and member S R Agrawal said.

Directing the IIA to refund the fee charged for admission of two daughters of Sengupta, the forum said when her daughters was interested in BAE, they could not be forced to undergo any other equivalent certificate course.

"Iia is not only guilty of deficiency in service but also indulged in unfair trade practice by making misrepresentations about the nature of the course," south-west district consumer forum said.

Dismissing the iias contention that there was no misrepresentation as they had explicitly shown in the prospectus to sengupta the other equivalent course being offered, the forum said she was disclosed only "half truth."

Agreeing to acute inconvenience in the commutation, it further asked iia to refund the fee of her second daughter as well for failing to provide bus service which it had promised to do at the time of admission.

Sengupta, a resident of ashram in south Delhi, had paid Rs 1.42 lakh for admission of her two daughters in BAE but later learned that iia, based at Mahipalpur, was holding courses for associate membership examination only. (PTI)

Aamarinder Singh slips, hurts his ankle

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hurt his left ankle after slipping in the bathroom, but the injury was a minor one.

"I slipped while going to the bathroom last night, but there is nothing serious," he told reporters.

He was seen walking with the help of a stick at the swearing-in ceremony of new Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Virender Jain at Haryana Raj Bhavan today.

Singh, however, said his poll campaign schedule would not be affected. (PTI)

Sanjay Dutt: Bollywood has Rs.150 cr at stake

MUMBAI, Nov 28: With actor Sanjay Dutt, whose six films are on the floor facing a possible imprisonment of a maximum of three years following his conviction under the arms act in the 1993 blasts here bollywood has a whopping Rs.150 crore at stake.

Sanjay, 47, who could not really savour the success of his latest hit "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" because of the impending verdict, was particularly careful in signing new ventures after July. Trade pundits say the actor, who was first arrested when he was playing the lead role in "Khalnayak" a tag which shadowed him for years worked overtime to complete the pending projects as the judgement day neared.

With the TADA Court convicting accused number 117 today, Rs.125 crore is locked up on the following Sanjay-starrers Ashtavinayak films’ untitled venture being directed by Abbas-Mastan; Sanjay Gupta’s "shoot out at Lokhandwala", Mahindra Dhariwal’s "Nehle Pe Dehla" (post-production), David Dhawan’s untitled film and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s "Eklavya", according to Kumar Mohan, trade analyst and editor of "complete cinema".

Another Rs.25 crore is invested in advertisements featuring Sanjay Dutt, says Mohan.

While convicting Sanjay, the court extended his bail till December 18.

His close friends and film producers Sanjay Gupta and Mahesh Manjrekar hope that the actor would come out clean as he had already spent a year and four months in jail earlier.

Sanjay also revived his family production house Ajanta arts but was yet to undertake new projects under the banner.

Sanjay’s character Munnabhai, who tries out the principles of Gandhi’s non-violence in the post-modernist world in his "Tapori" style in "Lage Raho Munna Bhai", was a stupendous hit.

Says his lawyer Farhana Shah, "Sanjay has grown as an actor in the last 13 years ever since his trial in 1993 blasts began."

During day he attended court, in keeping with the bail condition, and at night he went for shoots for at least two years after he secured bail. Gradually, the bail conditions were relaxed though he had to appear before the court at regular intervals, Shah said.

One of his hit films during this period was "Vastava" (in which he played the role of an underworld Don) produced by Prakash Nikhalje, brother of fugitive gang leader Chhota Rajan.

The other films for which he won accolades were "Kaante", "Mission Kashmir", "Dus", "Virudh", "Parineeta", "Munnabhai" and its sequel, which made "Gandhigiri" popular across the country.

The actor, who career is seeing an upward swing, had told a TV channel in a recent interview, "if I am convicted I will bow down my head and accept the judgement and if I am acquitted I will not be able to hold back my tears. I have full faith in the judicial system." (PTI)

Woman burns her children to death

LUCKNOW, Nov 28: A woman allegedly killed her two children, one of them ten-month-old, by setting them on fire in Alambagh locality here today.

Nirmala Chaurasia of Barha Railway Colony allegedly burned ten-month-old Mukka and Shailly (5) after pouring kerosene on them killing them instantly, police said.

Nirmala was disturbed over some personal problem, they said, adding she has been arrested. (PTI)

Renovation works of Red Fort, Qutub as per norms: Govt

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: The Government today trashed reports that the conservation works at the Red Fort and the Qutub Minar were carried out recently without using appropriate conservation techniques and using sub-standard material.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said the conservation work of these medieval monuments was carried out as per the routine annual conservation programme chalked out every year by the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI).

A detailed comprehensive conservation management plan for the Red Fort is under preparation for renovation works, she said.

Ms Soni said the ASI had undertaken regular maintenance and conservation programme of the protected monuments, besides structural conservation, wherever necessary.

"The conservation of the monuments is a continuous process," she added.

Replying to another query, the minister said protected monuments and site museums under the ASI and museums directly under the Culture Ministry and its autonomous bodies had adopted measures for adequate protection by way of deploying CISF guards, installation of CCTVs, metal detectors and fire smokers.

Barring a few incidents, no major case of theft had been reported in the recent past, she said.

"Security arrangements of all the museums under the administrative control of the Indian Government are being constantly upgraded and strengthened," Ms Soni pointed out. (UNI)

BJP strikes at "islamisation of politics"

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: In unmistakable signals of the BJP playing its Hindutva card, senior party leader Kalyan Singh today said "islamisation of politics" would be the party’s key plank in the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Buoyed by the party’s success in the recent civic elections in the state, the BJP is now eyeing the number one slot in the Assembly polls in the state that once swept the saffron party to centrestage over the Ayodhya issue.

Elaborating on "islamisation of politics", the Hindutva hardliner told in an interview that political parties were going in for "minority appeasement" through moves like reservation for Muslims and granting a minority status to the Aligarh Muslim university.

He also voiced suspicion that the delay in execution of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal could be because of the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh.

"This is nothing but islamisation of politics," he said, adding that terrorism and threats to internal security were also plank on which the party would go to the people.

Rejecting possibilities of extending support to the BSP in forming the next Government, he said his party had a bitter experience of sharing power in the state. And this time, he claimed, the BJP would be able to win a full majority.

"We have thrice carried the Palanquin of Mayawati and now there is pain in our shoulders. It was a very painful experience. We do not want to repeat it," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, who is leading the saffron campaign in the crucial polls, said.

Singh, who led the party to power in the state for the first time 15 years ago against the backdrop of the Ayodhya movement, called the Ram Temple a symbol of faith, culture, tradition and nationalism.

He, however, said Ayodhya could not be an issue for the party to garner votes.

"We are committed to building a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. But Ram is over and above partisan politics," he remarked, adding the party would give a befitting response to its detractors if challenged on the issue.

With the importance of Uttar Pradesh in the scheme of things in mind, Singh went the extra mile in the interview to project that all was well within his party and its ties with the Sangh Parivar.

"There are no ideological or programmatic differences. We are all united" was his refrain.

Singh summed up his party’s electoral strategy in three words — "Badla (revenge), Badlo (change), Vikalp (alternative)" — to regain the centrestage once again.

Elaborating on the three-word formula to woo voters, Singh sought to drive home the point that the people of the state have an opportunity to "avenge misrule" of Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh and of the Congress at the Centre.

"Falling from a frying pan into fire is a change. But it is not a change for better," he said, emphasising that a vote to Mayawati would sure lead to a change but "her rule will be as bad as the SP’s."

"The only alternative available to the people is the BJP," he claimed, adding that the people have started talking "nostalgically" about the saffron rule in the state and of the Vajpayee Government at the Centre.

Singh, who is the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, also called UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s "clean chit" to outlawed students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), despite it’s suspected involvement in anti-national activities, part of "islamisation of politics".

Terror strikes, including in Jammu and Kashmir and Ayodhya, and the Government’s handling of such situations shows that the powers that be do not want to antagonise Muslims, he alleged.

Demanding that the State Assembly elections be held under the President’s rule, he said a high-level delegation of the party would soon be meeting President A P J Abdul Kalam in this regard.

"This is necessary as there is mafia rule in Uttar Pradesh under which free and fair elections are not possible," the former Chief Minister said, alleging that there have been 16,000 murders, 7,000 rapes and 6,000 kidnappings during the three-year SP rule.

Dismissing the Congress’ charges that the BJP and the SP were hand-in-glove, he said the cap fits the Congress not his party.

"It is the Congress that is supporting the Mulayam Singh Government and it is the Samajwadi Party which is backing the Congress at the Centre. The BJP is nowhere involved," he said.

He also rejected suggestions that his party owed its success in the recent civic elections in Uttar Pradesh to the non-participation of the BSP in the contest.

"Whatever success we as also the Congress achieved was on our own strength and not because of any overt or covert support," Singh said. (PTI)

IIA to build new two-metre solar telescope in Leh

BANGALORE, Nov 28: The Indian Institute of Astrophysics has sought funds from the Centre to build a Rs 100 crore two-metre diameter solar telescope, the first in Asia, to be located in the trans Himalayan region, its Director Siraj S Hasan said.

Speaking to newspersons after the inauguration of the second UN/NASA workshop on ‘international heliophysical year and basic space science’ here yesterday, he said the institute had sent an initial proposal and the final proposal would be submitted later.

"Ideally, we want to set up this telescope in Leh or Hanle. Wider telescopes help study the sun at greater spectro detail. Good sight and processes of the data can help study the sun better. It would take five years to complete the erection of the telescope," he said.

Dr Hasan said IIA was also facing dearth of highly trained manpower like other centres of higher learning, including IIMS and IITS.

"We wanted to hire ten post-doctoral students this year, but we could get only three. The exodus of talented minds to it and other technological fields is continuing. What we need to do is to give a better package to scientists in the research institutes and teaching staff in the higher learning institutes. Money is important. But more important thing is to create opportunities for these people to pursue their ideas and projects. The public-funded institutions need to give more money and create better opportunities. It is time we end the problems affecting these institutions like red tapism," the Institute Director said.

Advocating higher allocation for the science sector, he noted that the present outlay amounted to just 0.8 per cent of the gdp and said it should go up to one per cent next year and two per cent in three years. "This is inevitable for a country which wants to do research and development in cutting edge science. Critics never realise how much is spent on other sectors, mainly defence. Development of science needs to be given more money in India." (UNI)

Boy injured in leopard attack

JAMMU, Nov 28: One boy sustained injuries after a leopard attacked and dragged him out from his house at a remote hamlet in Jammu and Kashmir.

The incident took place last night when the leopard entered and dragged the minor boy from his house at Chingus Rashawa village in Rajouri district. The leopard had earler killed four animals at a cowshed in Gangroat village at Noushera tehsil, in the same area, official sources said.

After local people raised an alarm, the leopard escaped after leaving the boy Rafeeq at some distance from the house, they said.

Rafeeq, has been hospitalised with injuries, the sources said adding that there was fear psychosis among the people in the belt over the increasing leopard attacks.

As many as nine persons have been killed, 34 injured and four dozen animals killed in leopard and bear attacks in Rajouri and Poonch district in the past six months. (PTI)

Sanjay Dutt: From lovable Munnabhai to jail

MUMBAI, Nov 28: Film star Sanjay Dutt’s life has been a rollercoaster ride, from the huge popularity of "Munnabhai" to the confines of a jail cell.

The verdict by the TADA court today convicting accused number 117 under the Arms Act in the 1993 serial blasts here puts the 47-year-old actor’s career in jeopardy at a time when it is at a peak after two huge hits — "Munnabhai MMBS" and its sequel "Lage Raho Munnabhai". Judge P D Kode acquitted Sanjay of charges under the YADA Act, meaning he had not been found guilty of terrorist acts.

The son of two yesteryears’ film stars — Nargis and Sunil Dutt — Sanjay’s life has turned out be a story fit for a Bollywood thriller.

Having started his career with "Rocky" in 1981, Sanjay always carried an enfant terrible image and failed to get going in the film industry. His mother’s premature death due to cancer led him to drug abuse.

Sanjay overcame his addiction, visiting a rehabilitation centre in US, but personal problems for him aggravated with the death of his first wife Richa from cancer.

He, however, made a comeback, moving from the loverboy image of "Rocky" to gritty action roles in films like "Khalnayak" and "Thanedaar" in the 1990s.

However, his career suffered another setback when in a development that shocked the nation, Sanjay was made an accused in the Mumbai blasts that killed 257 people and arrested on April 19, 1993. He was released on bail three months later, but was re-arrested on July 14 and remained in jail for 15 months before he was again granted bail.

He was charged with illegally possessing an AK-56 rifle during the 1993 blasts and for destroying the weapon under the TADA Act and the Arms Act.

Sanjay again overcame the bad patch with successful movies like "Vaastav" — in which, reminiscent of his involvement in the blasts case, he played an underworld don —and "Mission Kashmir".

At the time of his conviction, he had only just started to taste the biggest success of his 20-year chequered career — in which he has worked in over 60 films — with the mega hit Munnabhai films in which he plays a don with a golden heart.

Sanjay went through another personal tragedy last year when he lost his father Sunil Dutt.

He recently divorced his second wife Rhea Pillai and is currently being linked to a Pakistan-born belly dancer.

In the run-up to the verdict in the blasts case, Sanjay had stopped all his film work as he was unable to concentrate on shooting.

He visited various temples in the city and was spending a lot of time in prayer.

"I wish and pray that everything goes well and I get my freedom," he had said in a recent interview. (PTI)

Jamshedpur-the city of century blood donors

RANCHI, Nov 28: Steel city Jamshedpur has registered a record number of blood donation cases.

According to Health Department sources, about one third blood donors, who had donated their blood for more than hundred times, were from the steel city.

Joint Director cum Administrative Officer of Jharkhand State AIDS Control Society D P Taneja told reporters here lack of proper knowledge among rural people was the main reason behind scarcity of blood in blood banks.

He said 10 more blood banks would be opened in this fiscal to provide ancility health services in 22 districts. (UNI)

Govt taking steps to stop adulteration of petrol, kerosene

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: The Government is streamlining the Jan Kerosene Pariyojana (JKP), set up to eliminate the diversion of pds kerosene for adulteration, after undertaking a review of the innovative pilot project, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel said in a written reply that the JKP aims at radically revamping the PDS kerosene distribution network to ensure that this heavily subsidised product is actually made available to intended beneficiaries.

The project was launched on October 2, 2005 for a period of six months. Based on the diagnostic study conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research and a review by the Government, it was initially extended up to June 30, 2006 and again up to September 30, 2006. It has now been further extended up to June 30, 2007.

Mr Dinsha said, "the possibility of adulteration of petrol/diesel by some unscrupulous elements cannot be ruled out due to huge price difference between petrol/diesel and various adulterants available in the market and the easy miscibility of these products with petrol/diesel."

Replying to a question regarding the steps taken to stop diversion of subsidised kerosene meant to be sold through PDS, he said despite the killing of IOC Officer S Manjunath, there was no let up in the efforts to tackle the menace of adulteration including installation of global positioning system to monitor the position of tank trucks, introduction of new tamper proof tank-truck locking systems and canalising of kerosene through oil marketing companies.

Smuggled high speed diesel worth Rs 35.74 lakh was seized by the Department of Revenue, Finance Ministry, during April-October 2005-06, up from Rs 2.42 lakh in 2003-04, the minister said.

The number of cases involving smuggling of HSD into India from the coasts of Gujarat and Maharashtra had also risen from two in 2003-04 to four in the first half of 2005-06, he said. Seven people had been arrested in 2004-05 and 11 arrests were made in 2005-06.

Mr Patel said to meet the supply of LPG demand in the country, in 2005-06 the public sector oil companies had imported 2,449 tmt of LPG while indigenous production had touched 7,526 tmt.

In April-September 2006-07, the LPG imports had reached 737 tmt while domestic production totalled 4,103 tmt. (UNI)

Sound - A new art form gaining popularity

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: Cynthia, a Lebanese resident recently played the piano on a moving truck and travelled through the roads of the capital in an attempt to synchronise the sound of the musical instrument with the sounds of the horns of vehicles.

Her attempt was not another experiment in fusion music, rather it was a performance of ‘sound art,’ an audio art form which endeavours to give a new listening experience, different from music.

"Sound art is not music, rather it can be termed as a new listening experience," says cynthia, who is here to participate in a residency on `sound art’.

Sound art as an art practice is rooted in early 20th century experimentations in sound. Having originated from Europe, now it is gaining popularity in the United States and Australia.

"It is an idea of audio art, that is not necessarily music. With the kinds of varied practices in this art form, sound art transgresses all boundaries," says Alexis Bhagat, a sound artist from New York.

"Through our performances we try to expose the listeners to all kinds of sounds beyond conventional music," says Sophia, an Australian artist.

The artists feel that, with its large scope, sound art is closer to real life than most other art forms.

"While I was playing the piano on the roads, the noise on the Delhi streets - the horns, the loud music in the cars gave a distinct impression bout Indians that they are expressive and extrovert," Cynthia says.

"Through sound art, you can study and know about the culture of a place," she says.

"I am trying to prepare a presentation of the sounds made by the people, the furnitures kept in a building which I visited here last February and the same structure now as it has been bulldozed by civic bodies," says Sophia.

But, this innovative art form is yet to gain much popularity in India and other Asian nations.

"Asians are not receiving the art as easily as other parts probably because of our strong and deep rooted musical traditions," says Cynthia.

"There are not many people practising sound art in India right now. I feel very isolated being a sound art enthusiast in India," says Jatin Vidyarthi, a Chennai based DJ who has recently turned to sound art.

But Jatin feels, there is a lot of potential for this art form in India.

"There is scope here. But commercially it may be difficult to sustain initially," he says.

Infact, some organisations are also coming up in the country trying to promote such unconventional art forms.

"We plan to hold more residencies and workshops on sound art so that at least some enthusiasts of the art emerge in this country," Pooja sood, owner of Khoj, a studio promoting unconventional art forms said. (PTI)