Entangled in Chinkara case, Aamir shows concern for animals

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Currently embroiled in a legal wrangle for alleged violation of animal rights during shooting of his movie, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan not only came out in support for animal welfare but also shared the stage with well-known animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi.

"I believe all life is one whether it is animals or plants. Whether for luxury or entertainment it would be wrong to trouble the animals," said Khan, who was in the capital yesterday to support the endeavors of People for Animals (PFA) an NGO.

The actor who is known to voice his concerns about different social issues said, "What PFA is doing is something we all ought to support and I’m happy to be here."

Aamir was accused of filming a Chinkara deer, a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, for commercial purposes without taking due permission, during the shooting of the movie ‘Laagan’, for which most of the shooting was held in Kutch in 2000.

He alongwith his ex-wife Reena Dutta, the film’s producer, director Ashutosh Gowarikar, executive director Srinivas Rao and photographer Ashok Mehta have all been named in this case.

However Khan maintains that the Chinkara and the relevant scenes were created using computer graphics. The hearing for the case is still pending in the Gujarat High Court.

In 2006, Aamir’s name was again caught up in a controversy in his criticially acclaimed film ‘Rang De Basanti’. Ironically, it was Maneka Gandhi who as a member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) had accused the film’s producer of using horses in the film without getting mandatory permission from the body.

The 20 second scene in question depicts Aamir riding a horse during the Nihang Festival celebrated by the Sikhs, that was eventually deleted following the controversy.

"The Rang De Basanti controversy was more against the rural sport that has been banned rather that use of animals. The film-makers were unaware about this and hence didn’t pay attention," said Maneka Gandhi, PFA chairperson who was also present at the function.

However, she refused to comment on Aamir’s alleged involvement in the Chinkara case.

Talking about Aamir’s association with PFA, Gandhi said, "He has star-power that will attract more and more people towards the cause."

"Due to the efforts made by PFA the animal rights are on the agenda today. A difference had been made as compared to the situation 20 years ago and we are trying step by step to fill the ‘Ghada’" Gandhi said adding that it was not possible to expect 130 crore people to change overnight. (PTI)

Panel probing ‘cash-for-votes’ scam gets extension

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: A key Parliamentary Committee probing the ‘cash for votes’ scam that surfaced in the Lok Sabha during the trust vote has been given extension upto August 29.

The seven-member inquiry Committee headed by senior Congress MP V Kishore Chandra Deo was earlier asked to submit its report by August 11.

The extension given by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee follows a request from Deo.

Three BJP MPs had shocked the Lok Sabha during the confidence vote by displaying bundles of currency notes, alleging that they were offered the money to abstain from voting to save the Manmohan Singh Government.

The MPs had alleged involvement of SP leader Amar Singh and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress President. The two leaders have denied the charge.

CNN-IBN channel which recorded the sting operation has been asked to depose before the panel on Monday. The Committee has already recorded evidence of two of the three BJP MPs. (PTI)

Govt mulls change in content code of television programmes

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: The Centre is planning to have a fresh look at the Content Code in television programmes as it feels that the current one has become outdated.

"We are contemplating a review of the existing Content Code as it needs to be at par with changing times," Secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Sushma Singh, said here today while addressing the News Television Summit 2008.

Admitting delays on part of the ministry to finalise the code, Singh said, "The matter is being viewed seriously."

She said there is a high demand for an effective content regulation code on TV programmes as a number of channels are coming up on a regular basis.

Referring to the opposition of the Content Code by some private news broadcasters, Singh said, "Instead of opposing it, they should discuss the matter with Government."

She expressed concern over the coverage of violent incidents and riots, and said it leads to "violation of public order".

Singh also called for a consensus on content regulation between government and private broadcasters on the issue.

The Secretary said the Delhi High Court has also asked the ministry to bring out a legislation on the subject.

"Delhi High Court has asked for our views on Content Code and what we have done about it. The ministry will send its reply by September," she said.

Singh also pointed out that though the broadcasters are against the government’s intervention in the field of content regulation, "We have given licenses to 33 new TV channels this year. This shows our liberal attitude towards television channels."

On the much delayed Broadcast Bill, Singh said a decision is yet to be taken on the matter. She said the Bill is posted on the ministry’s website and views of various stakeholders have been taken on it. "It is awaiting Parliament’s nod." (PTI)

No Govt vehicle plying with GL number plate, says DM

SILIGURI, Aug 9: No Government vehicle in Darjeeling was plying with GL (Gorkhaland) number plate from this morning, said District Magistrate Surendra Gupta.

Some Government vehicles were yesterday spotted plying in Darjeeling with ‘GL’ number plates after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which is spearheading an agitation for Gorkhaland asked all government vehicles to change their number plates to GL.

Gupta over phone that many Government vehicles were kept in garages and all the officers including Additional District Magistrate’s (ADMs) asked to hire private vehicles without GL number plate.

The DM said that if there was any further pressure to affix GL number plate, he would ask all Government vehicles to stop plying and garage those till a solution to the problem was found.

When asked that the Government vehicles were not using GL number plate, the GJM press secretary, Benoy Tamang said that the GJM leadership was observing the situation.

"If it was found that Government officials were hiring private vehicles the GJM would chase the vehicles carrying Government officials and ask them to change the number plate to GL," Tamang said.

"We have also asked the private vehicle owners to change the number plates but it was not not mandatory".

In the first phase GJM had affixed GL number plates to around 40 vehicles used by GJM and its leaders on July 7. (PTI)

BJP to organise rally on Amarnath shrine issue

PANAJI, Aug 9: BJP Goa unit will take out a rally to protest against the recent revocation of land assigned to Amarnath Shrine Board in Jammu and Kashmir, to Raj Bhavan on August 13.

Disclosing this to mediapersons here today, the unit president and MP Shripad Y Naik said the party will submit a memorandum to the governor, to be forwarded to the President and the prime minister, demanding the land back for the Board to facilitate thousands of Hindu pilgrims visiting the shrine every year.

"It was unbecoming of the Congress-led Government in Jammu and Kashmir to promise the land and then withdraw the order at a time when all the Governments were trying to provide the pilgrims with more amenities irrespective of their religion," he said.

"The Government acted against the sentiments of the Hindus to pamper a fundamentalist party in the border state," he alleged. (UNI)

Mayawati decides on her heir

LUCKNOW, Aug 9: BSP chief Mayawati today said she has decided on her heir outside her family who is also a Dalit.

It would be disclosed at an appropriate time, she said addressing the party’s National Workers’ meet here.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said she has written the name of the person, who belongs to the ‘chamar’ (dalit) caste, in a letter and given it two persons.

"I have sealed that name of my heir, who is 18 years younger than me in an envelope and given it to two persons. The name will be disclosed at a opportune time. He is not of my family. I can say only that much," Mayawati said. (PTI)

Pachauri wants IITs to research on climate-change
threats

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Warning that the problem of climate change would be acute in the 21st century, eminent environmentalist R K Pachauri today asked the IITs to undertake research to overcome the dangers.

Speaking at the 39th convocation of IIT Delhi, Pachauri, who heads the Intergovernmental Panel (IPCC) on Climate Change, which won the Nobel peace prize last year, said the IPCC report has found that warming of climate system is unequivocal.

"Heat waves have become more frequent over most land areas... The frequency of heavy precipitation events has also increased over most land areas," he said.

Quoting the IPCC report of 2007, he said the range of temperature increase by the end of 21st century is quiet large because of economic growth, development, changes of technology and pattern of trade and investments.

The average temperature increased during the 20th century was 0.74 degree Celsius. The temperature increase projected by the end of 21st century can range between 1.8 degree Celsius to four degree Celsius, he said.

"It is institutions like IIT-Delhi that will have to show the way not only in terms of influencing society and its decisions through a rigorous interpretation of scientific and technological phenomena being experienced in the world, but by also creating technological solutions that go far beyond what is available today," he said.

The institute gave away degrees to 1,415 students, including 147 Ph.D holders at the convocation. (PTI)

Maharashtra Bar Council launches e-library...

MUMBAI, Aug 9: Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa has undertaken an ambitious scheme to provide all the bar associations in the state with computers pre-loaded with case-law softwares.

The scheme, first of its kind in the country, was launched by Justice S B Mhase of Bombay High Court today.

Additional Solicitor General of India Rajendra Raghuvanshi and state bar council’s president Rajiv Patil were present on this occasion.

With these computers, any past decision of Supreme Court or the High Courts would be only a click away for lawyers working in remote areas of the state, said advocate Patil.

Computer kits were distributed to bar associations in Mumbai and Konkan area at the hands of Justice Mhase today.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mhase said the scheme would benefit lawyers at the tehsil level the most.

"The big city lawyers generally have access to digital technology, but at tehsil level, young lawyers have to struggle to get copies of past decisions. This E-library will help them," said Justice Mhase.

The judgements of all the High Courts and the Supreme Court from 1950 onwards would be stored on the computers. In the case of Bombay High Court, even decisions dating back to 1901 would be available. (PTI)

Observe restraint in reporting violence: I&B to TV channels

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting today appealed to news channels to observe restraint while reporting events of violent protest by people.

Addressing the Second News Television Summit here, Secretary of the Ministry Sushma Singh said,"In the recent past, television reporting of violent protests in the country has given some cause for worry. She said the channels, while reporting such events should take care to see that peace and harmony was not disturbed."

She stressed the need for having in place a TV content code and some redressal mechanism as soon as possible in view of the large number of complaints against some TV programmes being received from the civil society.

She said the Government was also under pressure from the court and Parliament to bring in some check on TV programmes dishing out sex, crime and violence.

Referring to the attempts by the Government to bring in such a code and the resistence by the news broadcasters against it, the Secretary said, they should cooperate with the Ministry in this task.

Ms Singh, however, said she received some suggestions from the News Broadcasters Association and expressed the hope that Indian Bradcasting Foundation and there was a need for consensus on this issue. A final decision on the issue is yet to be taken by the Ministry, she added.

She said the Government has to report to the Delhi High Court the progress in this matter and hoped the news broadcasters would help to arrive at a consensus, before it goes to the court with its report.

She said the government’s non-interference in the contents of TV programmes would be ideal but for immediate practical purposes it has to play its role.

The summit was organised by Indian Television dotcom. (UNI)

Buddha turns down plea for CRPF redeployment in Nandigram...

TAMLUK, WB, Aug 9: A demand for redeployment of the CRPF in West Bengal’s trouble-torn Nandigram area was today turned down by the chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at an all-party meeting held here today.

The meeting, convened by the State Government in the wake of fresh outbreak of violence in the area, had no pre-set agenda and was boycotted by the Trinamool Congress and the SUCI.

The chief minister turned down the plea on the ground that the state police was competent to deal with the prevailing situation at Nandigram, party leaders who attended the meeting said.

The CRPF had been deployed there under a particular situation.

Bhattacharjee, emerging from the meeting, said "it was a good meeting". But he left without briefing the media-persons present who scrambled for vantage positions. A scuffle ensued as the security personnel stood in the way.

Representatives of the CPI(M), CPI, RSP and All India Forward Bloc all constituents of the ruling Left Front, Congress and Socialist Party, attended the meeting including the local CPI(M) MP Laxman Seth.

The East Midnapore Congress president Sailajanandan Das, who was present at the meeting, said that the Chief Minister also proposed that there should be no public meeting, rally or procession in Nandigram area till peace was restored there to which he objected.

"The CM asked me to talk to my party’s senior leaders and then inform him", he said.

Some party leaders who attended the meeting said that the demand for CRPF redeployment was made by RSP, a LF constituent, and the Congress.

Socialist Party MLA Brahmamoy Nanda said the chief minister said that the government’s immediate priority was to restore peace in Nandigram while he instructed the district magistrate and panchayat functionaries to kick off agricultural operations in the area.

Bhattacharjee also ordered that all arms in the area should be seized along with vehicles plying there without number plates.

The chief minister also suggested that all party meetings should be held in the district at the local level every ten days to take stock of the situation and ensure restoration of peace.

The SUCI, which did not attend the all party meeting, had submitted a memorandum to the district administration earlier demanding redeployment of CRPF in Nandigram, removal of the officer in-charge of Nandigram police station and arrest of criminals in the area.

It also demanded that a CBI inquiry should be instituted into the killing of CPI(M) leader Niranjan Mandol at Nandigram on Wednesday and withdrawal of "false cases" instituted against Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC). (PTI)

‘BJP, Cong should have a common minimum plan on eco reforms’...

NEW DELHI, Aug 9: At a time when economic reforms are in a limbo, a key UPA leader has said that problems facing the nation would increase if Congress and BJP fail to draw up a common minimum plan in the matter.

"The Congress and BJP are the dominant political parties in the country. It has become essential for them... To draw some common minimum plan with regard to economic reforms. Disregarding this need would only increase the problems that the nation is already facing," NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said.

Pawar’s comments have come in an interview, that appears in "Fast Forward", a compilation of his speeches and interview, edited by noted journalist Aroon Tikekar.

Pawar noted that the BJP opposed the Dabhol Power Company but later accepted foreign direct investment (FDI) in the telecom sector, reaching a limit of 74 per cent. "When our Government presented the relevant Bill in Parliament, the BJP did not oppose it," he said.

Asked whether he saw the two national parties treading common grounds on economic reforms, the Union Agriculture Minister said, "the Congress and BJP need to have a dialogue in this direction."

Pawar’s remarks have come at a time when the BJP has virtually declared that it was not going to cooperate with the Government in pushing the agenda of economic reforms and were in no mood to support key Bills that were pending so far due to Left opposition.

This was inspite of the fact that Finance Minister P Chidambaram has expressed readiness to reach out to the main Opposition.

In the interview, Pawar suggested that he was one of the earliest leaders who had spoken about economic reforms when "even to utter the word ‘liberalisation’ was no less than a blasphemy".

During his first Budget speech, Manmohan Singh, who was then Finance Minister, had acknowledged his contribution by saying, "my colleague (I was sitting next to him) had expressed these views in 1988".

He said that when he was insisting on the need for diminishing government control in certain areas, his suggestion was not received positively. In fact it was considered "highly suspect".

"Today ironically even Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister of West Bengal, sings the same tune and his opinions are welcomed by members of the CPI(M). Perhaps I was being criticised for being ahead of times," Pawar said.

To a query regarding apparent absence of ideological differences among the new generation of politicians, he said there would be hardly any evidence of ideological differences between the young leadership of the Congress and second generation leaders in the BJP.

He said there is hardly any evidence of a difference in the way of thinking between the two groups.

"Yet they do not interact with other party leaders for fear of being misunderstood by their party leaders. If they are seen discussing with one another, others might misread the intentions," Pawar said.

"It is the BJP’s policy to keep to itself. They move within the perimeters of the Sangh Parivar, rarely venturing beyond," he said.

Pawar, however, said that there is a notable difference in the younger generation. They are socially more aware and have greater understanding. (PTI)

Congress for unconditional talks on Singur land issue...

KOLKATA, Aug 9: Taking a strong pro-farmer stand, Congress today held the Left Front Government responsible for the "grave situation" at Singur and urged the Buddhadev Bhattacharjee administration to initiate unconditional talks involving the Tatas and peasants’ representatives for resolving the issue of the disputed 400 acres there.

Alleging that the State Government’s "dictatorial" attitude and hasty administrative steps at Singur complicated the situation, state Congress Chief P R Dasmunshi said "we would like to call upon the State Government to resolve the farmers’ problem by holding an unconditional discussion involving Government, peasants’ representatives and the industry (meaning the Tatas) immediately".

In line with the Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s stand, Dasmunshi said that Congress was totally against going ahead with industrialisation by sacrificing farmers’ interests, adding that such unconditional talks be held as early as possible for resolving the issue of the disputed additional 400 acres at Singur.

Speaking at a WBPCC-sponsored conference on ‘Panchayetira and Nagarpalika’ here, Dasmunshi said the Congress strongly felt that the Front government should have sought public opinion on the issue by publishing a White Paper on Singur.

He said it was imperative that the unconditional talks be held immediately to sort out the issue in the interest of the peasants. (PTI)