Govinda’s nephew, friends held on molestation charges

MUMBAI, Sept 23: Nephew of actor-turned-MP Govinda was arrested along with two friends for allegedly molesting the wife of a personnel assistant of a Maharashtra Minister, police said today.

In a complaint with police, Seema Chincholikar, wife of Dayanand Chincholikar, PA to Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sunil Tatkare said, Govinda’s nephew Janvendraand his friends had approached her and her husband near a fast-food stall at Juhu beach on September 20 night and allegdely tried to molest her.

When she resisted, the accused also assaulted her husband, Seema said in the complaint.

Janvendra, the son of film producer Kirti Ahuja, would be produced before a suburban court along with his accomplices later in the day. Ahuja is Govinda’s brother. (PTI)

Now canteen system for para-military forces too

NEW DELHI, Sept 23: A Central Police Forces Canteen System is being established to benefit over seven lakh para- military forces personnel across the country.

The canteens will provide a wide range of goods to serving as well as retired personnel and their families, the Union Home Ministry said today.

The decision to establish a common canteen system follows a direction from Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who has been keen on providing better working conditions to all para-military personnel.

The CMPF battalions would take their supplies directly from authorised dealers and stockists of the manufacturers, thereby saving on the profits of intermediaries, an official release said.

The system, which will become functional within a few weeks, is designed to take advantage of the competition in the market. It is also structured to have a low operational cost and to eliminate generation of dead stocks.

The canteens would be administered by a Common Central Administraive Committee and Central Purchase Committee manned by CMPF officers.

Regional Depots will also be made functional in remote areas in due course where possibilities of distributors did not exist.

The initial working capital will be provided from a welfare fund.

The CPMF personnel have been demanding canteen facilities similar to the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) system in the Ministry of Defence for a very long time.

The demand has become more relevant in the present scenario of intense involvement of the para-military forces in anti-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations away from their homes and families for long spells.

Besides, para-military personnel have to survive intense hardhip on account of his deployment under stressful conditions where basic requirements are difficult to get.

The decision to set up a common canteen system for the central forces is expected to go a long way in fulfilling a long standing demand of the CPMF personnel. (PTI)

CBI director elected to Executive Committee of Interpol

NEW DELHI, Sept 23: CBI Director Vijay Shanker has been elected to the Executive Committee of 152-country Interpol, elections to which were held during its General Assembly Session at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr Shanker polled the highest, after two rounds of voting, in the election to the post of ‘Delegate for Asia’, said the CBI spokesman here.

The ‘Executive Committee’, Interpol’s select deliberative organ comprising of a President, three Vice-Presidents and nine Delegates, has a three-year term and meets thrice a year-usually in March, July and immediately before the General Assembly.

It supervises the execution of the decisions of the General Assembly, prepares the agenda for its sessions, submits to it any programme of work or project worth consideration while supervising its administration and working.

Mr Vijay Shanker, an Indian Police Service official with 37 years of experience in criminal investigation, terrorism, anti-corruption, economic offences, maintenance of law and order and police administration, has been decorated with the President’s Police Medal and Indian Police Medal.

Striving for international cooperation in fight against crime and terrorism, he has advocated for a proactive role by Interpol in the global fight against crimes that adversely affect peace and tranquility in civil societies.

He is leading a six-member Indian delegation to the 75^{th Assembly Session of the Interpol, being held from September 19-22 at Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil. (UNI)}

Magasaysay awardee to intiate ‘save water’
campaign in Punjab

JALANDHAR, Sept 23: Punjab with over 70 per cent area under dark zones or grey zones, would soon witness rain water harvesting and community driven decentralised resources management programme like Rajasthan.

Talking to reporters here today noted environmentalist and Magsaysay awardee, Rajendra Singh said that his Tarun Bharat Sangh had been studying the situation in some pockets of this state for some time. The campaign in some of these areas might be initiated with local people’s participation, by December.

He said that 40 per cent of blocks in Punjab had been declared dark zones while 30 per cent are classified as grey zones and the situation needed immediate measures.

He said that farmer’s insistence on more water consuming crops like paddy and over exploitation of ground water had posed a serious threat of water crisis in this state.

Mr Singh said that under the campaign, public awareness for water management would be undertaken and water havesting structures suitable to the needs of the area would be prepared with people’s participation.

Besides farmers, every household could contribute in the recharge of water table by ensuring measures to havest rain water, he said. This could be done merely by preventing wasteful draining of rain water and storing it under the ground.

Mr Singh said that joint community efforts had brought revolutionary change in the situation in several areas in Rajasthan.

Besides Rajasthan, his campaign had also showed results in some parts of Maharastra and in Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh and Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that over 8600 water harvesting structures like check dams had been constructed under this campaign by villagers in these areas, he said. (UNI)

Nitish, Sharad will not miss me: Fernandes

NEW DELHI, Sept 23: Marginalised in his party after losing the election for its top post, former JD(U) president George Fernandes has said he does not care if his ties with BJP and party colleagues Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar break over his invitation to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to a gathering of socialists here next month.

"None of them has any use for me and I don’t think they will miss me," Fernandes told Karan Thapar on the ‘Devil’s Advocate’ programme on CNN-IBN.

The JD(U) leader said "yes" when asked if he did not care if his relationship with BJP, Kumar and Sharad Yadav broke over an invitation to Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Asked if his invitation to the UP Chief Minister to a function to mark death anniversary of Ram Manohar Lohia here on October 12 would create a rift between him and BJP which views the SP chief Yadav as its rival in Uttar Pradesh, the NDA convenor replied in the affirmative.

"Yes, of course, the BJP does want to defeat Mulayam but I have always stood by Mulayam and here also I stand my Mulayam," he said.

Fernandes said he did not care what BJP thought about his invite to the UP Chief Minister.

On being asked if he was thinking of resigning from the JD(U) and quitting his parliamentary seat as well, Fernandes said "so be it" and nodded when queried whether he was prepared for the final break.

Maintaining that he and Mulayam had been together for almost 40 years, Fernandes recalled their days in the Socialist Party and said the the SP leader was "the only man who understood what that Tehelka was .... And stood by me".

To a question whether he would join Samajwadi Party, Fernadnes said "I have other options" and re-launching of Samata Party could also be thought of.

Fernandes agreed it was right to say that he wanted to keep his distinct identity but would like it to be as close to Mulayam as possible and it would be done by re-launching Samata Party.

He also said he was ready to leave the NDA of which he was the Convenor.

Fernandes felt he has been let down "to an extent" by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"I was the one who brought him into the party and I spent three years of my life in Bihar to see that the states comes out of the situation in which it was and when it came out I had to go out," he said.

Fernandes said what really rankled him was the manner in which Kumar reneged on a commitment to nominate Jaya Jaitely for the Rajya Sabha. "This was something which I couldn’t accept," he said.

The JD(U) leader, who lost to Sharad Yadav in the JD(U) presidential elections earlier this year, said the election was rigged and suspected it could have been done at Nitish Kumar’s instructions.

Fernandes said he felt humiliated when Kumar referred to him as "esteemed leader".

About his comments on the law and order situation in Bihar and "rampant" corruption in the state, he said " this is what people are telling and I am inclined to believe it". (PTI)

George willing to leave NDA if coalition doesn’t want him

NEW DELHI, Sept 23: Former Defence Minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes, confirming his participation in the meeting of socialists called by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on October 12 at Lucknow, said he would "happily leave" the coalition and his party if they did not want him anymore.

In an interview with television channel CNN-IBN, the former Janata Dal chief was unable to hide his anger at the way he was replaced by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav and said he felt ‘betrayed’ by the duo.

"None of them have any use for me and I don’t think they will miss me," he said.

Asked if the Bihar Chief Minister had asked the BJP to remove him from the NDA, the veteran socialist, believed to have kept the coalition intact thus helping it rule the country for over six long years, said, "That’s a good news. NDA is not a party. It is a platform on which people come and go."

Asked if he was ready to go, the leader replied, "Yes, if they don’t want me there I won’t have any regrets."

The septuagenarian leader said it was he who had brought Mr Nitish Kumar into the (Samata) Party and worked with dedication to change the situation in Bihar for three long years, but when success was achieved he (Mr Fernandes) had to go out.

"That is right," he said when asked if Mr Kumar turned him out.

Asked if his participation in Mr Mulayam Singh’s gathering to commemorate the death anniversary of socialist doyen Ram Manohar Lohia would vitiate the atmosphere within the NDA, he conceded that the BJP would not be happy about it.

"They want to defeat Mulayam but I have always stood by him and here also I stand by him," he said.

Stating that the socialist blood has to be thicker than water, Mr Fernandes recalled how he stood by Mulayam when his life was in danger and the Chief Minister too had reciprocated by speaking the truth about "Tehelka racket" inside and outside Parliament.

"He was the only man who understood what that racket Tehelka was.... And he stood by me," he remarked.

Asked why he was not joining Samajwadi Party, Mr Fernandes replied "I have other options".

Dwelling at length on his problems within the JD (U) and Bihar, Mr Fernandes who represented the Nalanda Lok Sabha constitutency thrice in 1996, 1998 and 1999 also indicated that Mr Nitish Kumar took away his Nalanda seat in 2003 elections as he was ‘totally scared’ of the Barh seat held by him. "I gave up the seat despite the fact that I had done lot of work in the constituency," he said.

Asked if he was hinting that Mr Kumar wanted to contest from Nalanda but lacked guts to put forth the suggestion directly, Mr Fernandes said, "That’s right," and added that he understood him and said, "Nitish you take Nalanda and I’ll go to my old constituency Muzaffarpur." He also said the Bihar Chief Minister was "totally scared" of losing in Barh. "He did lose from Barh," Mr Fernandes remarked. Mr Kumar had contested from both constituencies but won from only Nalanda.

Asked if he considered relaunching Samata Party, the socialist leader avoided a direct answer by saying, "There are people who want it (Samata Party) to be revitalized".

To a question if he contemplated resigning from the JD (U) and quitting his Muzaffarpur seat, he said "so be it". He also claimed that the JD (U) presidential elections early this year were "rigged".

Clarifying his earlier remark that nothing had changed in Bihar after Mr Nitish Kumar took over as kidnappings continued to be unchecked, an unrepenting Fernandes said "I spoke the truth as it was".

He also refused to take back his comment that corruption under Nitish Kumar was rampant and the situation was worse than Lalu-Rabri regime and said, "This is what people tell me and I am inclined to believe."

The veteran socialist said he felt humiliated when he was referred to as an "esteemed leader". Asked if he was suggesting that he was a spent force, Mr Fernandes replied "Yes, it goes beyond. At one level you say I have been rejected in the election after manipulation and still claim that I am your great leader. What does one call that?" (UNI)

Roadmap for Implementing 15-point Programme soon

NEW DELHI, Sept 23: Ground work for implementation of the Prime Minister’s 15-point programme for socio-economic development of minorities is nearing completion, and the Minorities Affairs Ministry has formulated draft guidelines for implementation of the ambitious scheme.

The guidelines will be sent to states as soon as they get Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s approval, Secretary M K Prasad said here.

The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister has already taken two review meetings, he said.

The 15-Point Programme for welfare of minorities, which was approved by the Cabinet on June 22, touches areas ranging from communal riots and education to employment and housing.

"It is a very comprehensive and complicated programme invloving several ministries and departments, and at present we are in dialogue with as many as nine Union ministries," he said.

The secretary said the process of fixing targets for various sectors covered in the programme will be completed in October.

"We have covered a lot of ground, though still lot of things are to be done, but we are finally on the way," said the secretary.

Mr Prasad said that the programme was different from all other schemes as there is very strong provision for its monitoring.

The Programme, which was formulated in 1983, has been revised and recast, as promised by the Prime Minister in his last year’s Independence Day budget.

He had said, The New 15-Point Programme will have definite goals which are to be achieved in a specific time frame.

The cabinet had also decided that 15 per cent of the funds provided under the scheme should be earmarked wherever possible for nationally declared minorities.

The Programme envisages action in the field of education, economic development and security of minorities.

Under the security, the issues to be addressed are prevention of communal riots, prosecution for communal offences and rehabilitation of victims of communal incident.

In education, the stress would be on improving access to school,

Modernisation of madrasas, providing resources for teaching of Urdu and improving educational infrastructure through Maulana Azad Education Foundation.

In the economic area, the programme focusses on creation of employment, upgradation of skills through technical training, credit support and recruitment to state and central services and equitable share in rural housing and improvement of slums.

The 15-point programme has been recast to provide for earmarking of outlays in certain schemes so that the progress was monitorable. (UNI)

Undertrial escapes as gunmen explode
bomb in court premises

PATNA, Sept 23: Unidentified gunmen today exploded a bomb in the Danapur court premises on the outskirt of the state capital and set free an undertrial from his police guards, even as one of them was shot dead while fleeing.

Riding separate motorcycles, they exploded a bomb and freed the undertrial who was brought to the court from Danapur jail for production, police said.

As people present inside the court premises scurried for cover, the undertrial quickly sat on a motorcycle and managed to flee.

Policemen guarding the undertrial promptly fired and chased the assailants. One of them was hit by bullets and died after falling off a motorcycle, Senior Superintendent of Police Kundan Krishnan said.

Senior police officials, including Krishnan, were camping on the spot. All entry and exit points to Danapur township were sealed and raids continued to nab the escapee and the gunmen.

One pistol, two crude bombs and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the spot.

Sources in the Danapur police station said the undertrial, who escaped with the help of his gang, was Ranjit Kumar.

Ranjit was lodged in judicial custody in a case of attempt to murder and Arms Act.

The deceased person, who police alleged was one of those involved in securing Ranjit’s freedom, was identified as Pankaj. (PTI)

Om Puri to play Pak President late Gen Zia

MUMBAI, Sept 23: Celebrated actor Om Puri will soon be seen sharing celluloid space with Hollywood biggies Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in his forthcoming film ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ where he will portray the character of General Zia-ul Haq, the late President of Pakistan.

The film is produced by Good Time Charlie Productions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal City Studios. ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ is produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. Mike Nichols is the director.

Puri had worked with Nichols earlier in ‘Wolf’. The film stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Om Puri has just returned from Los Angeles after a session of script reading, rehersals and costume. The shooting will begin in Morocco from next month and in the USA in December.

Puri plays Pakistan President Zia ul Haq in the film, which is a drama based on Texas Congessman Charlie Wilson’s dealings in Afghanistan where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforseen and long reaching effects.

Puri’s body of work in Hollywood includes films like ‘City of Joy’, ‘Ghost in the darkness’, ‘Wolf’ , ‘East is East’, ‘My son-the fanatic’ among others.

Om Puri told UNI, ‘Charlie Wilson’s war’ is a political film during the period when USSR invaded Afghanistan and America wanted to use Pakistan to get rid of the Soviets.

"I was in Los Angeles for two weeks as part of the pre-production work before the film goes on floor. I am researching a lot on the character I play. I remembered Zia having a gold tooth and confirmed it with Shatrughan Sinha and his wife Punam who were very close to the Pakistani General. Similarly, I also got to know that the chain he wore on his sherwani had a decorative pocket watch," Puri said.

"Gen Zia is shown in the film when the American envoy comes to Islamabad to discuss Afghanistan and Zia bullies the American.

Similarly, Zia goes to the US. Both times, he is shown in civilian dress. The backdrop is army background," Om Puri said. (UNI)

Hashmatullah Khan’s ‘Spring Of Hope’
to be premiered in IFFI

MUMBAI, Sept 23: Afghan filmmaker Hashmatullah Khan’s latest film ‘Spring Of Hope’ will be premiered at the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in November this year.

Khan, who was born in Afghanistan, has made the film in his mother tongue with English sub-titles.

Talking to the mediapersons here yesterday, Khan said, "you can call my film an Indo-Afghan collaboration which has 50 artistes from India besides fight masters and movie stunt directors.

"The film is a tale of two lovers who fall in love in college. But their hopes are soon shattered by the political crisis, which spans the next decades in the country. In the end, the film gives the message of love. The film is a love story with the backdrop of Afghan problems," he said.

Hashmatullah has himself played the male lead, while the female lead is played by Zarina who hails from Tazakistan.

"I needed somebody who looked like a college girl and knew Persian. Luckily, I went to Dushambe where I met Zarina. When I saw her beautiful eyes, I felt they could express pain and sorrow. I met her mother about the film," he said.

When the reporters asked Zarina whether she would like to join the Bollywood Bandwagon, she replied in the negative, and passed the microphone to Hashmatullah.

"Since we are in love, she wants me to answer the question. However, she likes some films of Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit," he replied.

The other cast of the film include Issa Janan, Asif Jalali, Abdullah Samadi, Bibi Saheeda and Javid Delawar. The film is edited by I M Kannu, while the action is by Akber Sharrif. It has background music by Sham Sadarangani.

Khan has come a long way by being a producer, director and writer of the ‘Spring Of Hope’. He came to Delhi from Afghanistan to complete his Post-Graduation in Political Science and then did an acting course from Asha Chandra’s School of Acting.

Hashmatullah got his first break in Johny Walker’s film ‘Pauche Hue Log’ and then signed a three-year contract with Amjad Bhai. Then he did two films — ‘Sach’ and ‘Band Darwaza’, which was acclaimed by the critics.

His last film was ‘Kishen Avtaar’ starring Mithun Chakravorty. He then opted for production by launching the Rahimi films international banner under which he has produced the ‘Spring Of Hope’.

When quizzed by reporters on being the leading man in the film and the reversal of roles from being behind the camera to being in front of the camera, he said: "once an actor, always an actor."

He has two offices one in Kabul and the other in Mumbai.

"I am lucky that India and Afganistan are my motherlands. Afganistan is my birth place, while India Iave me my vocation as an actor," Hashmatullah said on a personal note. (UNI)

Withdraw land acquisition order: BJP

HYDERABAD, Sept 21: The BJP today demanded that the Andhra Pradesh Government withdraw a land acquisition order and "rescue" farmers and weaker sections from losing their small holdings on the city’s outskirts.

Accusing the state of acquiring land from poor farmers at low prices and auctioning it at very high prices, BJP secretary Bandaru Dattatreya said, "The state has acquired large tracts of land adjoining the city in Ranga Reddy and Medak districts and sold it to business houses and builders".

In an open letter to Chief Minster Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, he said, "The poor farmers were dislocated and cheated by the state and justice should be done by restoring the land to farmers and weaker sections immedately."

Alleging that lands ranging in size from 13 to 1700 acres were auctioned to business houses at prices higher than the market rates, Dattatreya said the same land was bought from farmers at very low rates fixed by the revenue department.

Though the land was acquired in the name of creating infrastructure facilities, it was being used otherwise, he alleged. (PTI)

Stung by losses metro to use indigenous
infrastructure now

NEW DELHI, Sept 23: Stung by heavy losses incurred during the anti-sealing violence, Delhi Metro has decided to go shopping for indigenous technology instead of foreign goods for its infrastructure in a major cost-cutting exercise.

During the attack on metro properties on Wednesday, a total of 51 imported window glasses had been damaged, each costing around Rs 20,000.

But, "we have now found a local manufacturer for the glasses, who can provide the glasses at half the cost," DMRC Chief Spokesperson Anuj Dayal told PTI.

The new glasses would cost the metro only about Rs 10,000, which includes the installation cost. This means the the cost will only come to Rs 4,000 per glass.

The cost-cutting will, however, be done without compromising on the quality of the metro, Dayal said.

Asserting that the metro was one of the finest means of public transport existing worldwide, Dayal appealed to the people of Delhi to protect it as an asset of the city.

The fare tokens were previously imported with foreign technology, now they have been locally made.

"Fare tokens have been an issue from day one. People had the habit of keeping back the token as a sovegnier, unaware of the fact that each token cost Rs 100," Dayal said.

Each token has an electronic chip embedded which contains the travel information of the communter. The chips were earlier foreign made. "These days we have started putting the local chips by Philips in these tokens."

With this measure, each token would now cost DMRC around Rs 30 now, Rs 70 less than earlier, he explained.

However, DMRC has also now introduced souvenier tokens for commuters, which can be purchased for Rs 4 from the stations, he added. (PTI)

Rekha croons to a ‘Guide’ number in her forthcoming film

MUMBAI, Sept 23: The mystical Bollywood actress Rekha who was last seen as a grandmother of Krrish (Hrithik Roshan) will croon to ‘Din Dhal Jaye’ , a classic number from ‘Guide’ in her forthcoming film ‘Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana’.

At the music release function of the film, Rekha said co-actor and singer Vasundhara Das had inspired her to sing after a long time.

Debutant Director Amar Butala said that the legendary actress had probably lent her voice to a song in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Khubsoorat’ two decades ago.

The music release function held at a five star hotel on Thursday night began two hours late. But, the media did not mind and they created a flutter when the style icon made a grand entry.

The photographers were falling over each other to capture each and every mood and movement of the Bollywood Diva in their lenses. But, she disappointed the mediapersons by leaving the venue as soon as the function was over.

Speaking after the music release function, Rekha said she enjoyed working with the cast and crew of the film.

Mahima Chaudhary, Kim Sharma, Vasundhara Das, Ashmit Patel are the other cast members.

Butala said the story is about four women who belong to different age groups and different walks of life but are best friends.

He said ‘Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana’ is a fun and warm film about how best friends can sometimes be worst enemies. "It is all about friendship and true love," he added.

"The women in my film have distinctive personalities and yet there is a rapport between them. They have their own way of dealing with a situation and in portraying this part of the film, I think have have done justice to the female psyche," he added.

The film is produced by Mejoo Khan, who began her career in advertising and was executive producer in metalight productions which produced films like ‘Dil Vil Pyar Vyar’ directed by Anant Mahadevan, "Satta" directed by Madhur Bhandarkar and "Teen Deewairein" directed by Nagesh Kuknoor.

She is currently the business head of the films division of Bag Films Ltd. ‘Kudiyon....’ is her first independent production. (UNI)