Excelsior... Nation

Taslima hopes India will not turn her back on visa renewal.....

SC to hear petition against Raj Thackeray on Feb 22...

Lalu hints at ‘people friendly’ rail budget......

Pak allows Bollywood flick ‘Welcome’ in theatres....

‘Jodhaa...’controversy frivolous litigation
affecting creativity’

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: As the period film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ gets mired into controversy with a Rajput organisation calling for its ban alleging distortion of historical facts, trade analysts see it as a case of frivolous objections and litigations stalling a film’s release in India.

Directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar, who also directed the Oscar-nominated ‘Lagaan’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, based on a love story between Mughal Emperor Akbar and his beautiful Queen Jodhabai, is in the throes of controversy just a week ahead of its worldwide release, with the the Rajput Karni Sena calling for a ban on the film across the country for its distortion of history.

In a series of press statements issued in various parts of the country over the last week, the Rajput Karni Sena threatened not to allow the screening of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ in India, especially in theatres in Rajasthan.

"Jodhaa Akbar is an example of a film distorting historical facts under the garb of magnificent production values and elaborate sets.

"Showing Akbar and Jodhabai as husband and wife, when in reality

Jodhabai was the wife of Akbar’s son Jahangir, not only constitutes a careless tampering with history by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowarikar but also a gross violation of Indian traditions and social values," chief patron of the Rajput Karni Sena Lokendra Singh Kalvi said.

Calling for an unconditional apology from the filmmaker, Kalvi demanded that the Censor Board ban the film for its distortion of history.

Kalvi said he had met Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and demanded that ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ be banned for its tampering of historical facts.

Further, he said the distributor of the film in Rajasthan had decided not to release the film in the theatres in the state keeping in view the hurt that it has caused to the sentiments of people in the state.

"The film will not release in Rajasthan theatres. Further, we have urged the exhibitors of the nearly 4000 theatres across the country, which are to screen the film, not screen it,"Kalvi added.

Infact, Kalvi said the Rajput Sena had sent flowers to the distributors of the film in various areas to urge them not to release the film as it distorts Indian history.

Trade analysts, however, see the Rajput Sena threat to stall the release of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ as a dangerous trend, whereby any small organisation or individual can succeed in stalling the release of what is for the filmmakers a "labour of love" by simply obtaining an injunction from a court.

The maker of pathbreaking films like ‘Baghban’ and ‘Babul’ Ravi Chopra said, "Such frivolous protests are thoroughly condemnable. I feel that once a film has been cleared by the Censor Board and given a Censor Certificate, stalling the release of a film under pressure from what are clearly vested interests is a deplorable trend and needs to be checked."

Analysts in the film trade as well as those in film circles, feel that the "unnecessary controversy" generated around the film by the Rajpur Karni Sena is another example of organisations with vested interests trying to stall the release of the film by approaching courts or the Censor Board or pressurising distributors not to release the film in their respective territories.

In this regard, trade analysts point out that there are apparently various incidents wherein people have approached courts as little as one day before the theatrical release of a film and sought an order injuncting its release on frivolous grounds.

Though courts have been found to have exercised caution in some instances and allowed the producer to make a representation before them, there are also various instances where injunctions appear to have been granted to parties purely based on speculative or frivolous claims by such parties.

In the recent past, films like ‘Water’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Fanaa’ and ‘Aaja Nachle’ have been targetted by certain sections in society on frivolous grounds, leading to either their ban in some territories or a delay in their release.

Two years ago, the release of Rakeysh Mehra’s ‘Rang De Basanti’ was postoponed by a few weeks after the Indian Air Force and the Union Home Ministry objected to their depiction in the film. Some Air Force officers, who watched the film, claimed that they were shown in a bad light and demanded that some portions be cut from the film, which showed R Madhavan playing an Air Force Pilot, who died of a MIG-21 crash and the IAF was shown responsible for it. The matter was sorted out only after the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee himself saw the film at a special screening.

Last year, the screening of the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Fanaa’ was banned in Gujarat by the state Government after the actor made a statement supporting the agitation of the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ against the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The non-release of the film in Rajasthan entailed a loss of crores of rupees to the producers of the film.

More recently, Anil Mehta’s ‘Aaja Nachle’, the comeback film of 90s diva Madhuri Dixit, was pulled off from theatres in Uttar Pradesh after the Mayawati Government in the state took umbrage over some lyrics in the title track of the which said "kahe Mochi Bhi Kud Ko Sunar Hai". The release became possible only after the producers of the film, Yashraj tendered an unconditional apology on the issue and agreed to delete the objectionable lyrics from the film.

Says Koman Nahata, "The ban of ‘Fanaa’ by the Gujarat Government and that of ‘Aaja Nachle’ by the Uttar Pradesh Government raise a pertinent point: that if it is so easy for anybody to obtain a ban on a film, what is the need for a certifying authority like the Central Board of Film Certification."

Infact, trade analysts wonder why all these organisations, seeking a ban on a film, are seen to surface just on the eve of the film’s release when the filmmaker has spend crores of rupees in bringing the film to fruition.

For example, Nahata says, in case of ‘Aaja Nachle’, why did the Uttar Pradesh Government not raise the issue of casteism in the title track before the film’s release.

"After all, the title song of the film had been playing on radio FM and satellite channels for over a month before its release on November 30," he added.

All this, the trade analysts say, has caused a lot of unease among Indian filmmakers who are constantly apprehensive of any frivolous or baseless allegation by an individual or entity impacting the release of their films at the last minute.

"There appears to be a growing apprehension amongst producers of Indian films in respect of the apparent ease with which individuals and entities are able to approach the courts in various jurisdictions across the country and seek to obtain ex-parte orders of injunction of the release of these producer’s films," the sources added.

A direct consequence of this trend is that an increasing number of filmmakers today are afraid of "pushing the envelope" in the excercise of their creative freedom and instead are content to make films on "safe scripts" or subjects.

Trade analysts said the trend is also directly impacting the creative content of films as producers are increasingly becoming "risk-averse" and prefer to invest money in "safe" scripts that do not push the envelope and do not exercise the creative liberties that are inherent to the business of filmmaking. (UNI)

Kidney racket kingpin to be produced in court on Sunday

KATHMANDU, Feb 8: Dr Amit Kumar, the alleged kingpin of India’s biggest kidney transplant racket arrested yesterday after a fortnight-long manhunt, will be produced in a Nepalese court on Sunday and charged with violating foreign currency laws.

"As today and tomorrow are holidays in Nepal, Kumar will be produced in court on Sunday," Deputy Inspector General Ramesh Kumar Shrestha told reporters here.

He said the 40-year-old Indian doctor would be charged with possessing undeclared foreign currency.

Kumar told waiting media that he was "innocent" and being "falsely implicated".

Police had seized a bank draft for Indian rupees 936,000, and Euros 145,000 and USD 18,900 in cash from him during his arrest from Hotel Wildlife Camp in Chitwan in southern Nepal, 60 kms from the Indian border.

Initial reports of Nepalese media had said that he was carrying USD 145,000 and a draft of 936,000 Euros.

There were conflicting reports whether Manish Singh, who accompanied Kumar to the hotel, has been apprehended or not. While Himalayan Times claimed he had fled, Kantipur online reported that he has been arrested alongwith Kumar.

The news portal reported that another person escaped. There was no confirmation whether he was a Nepali or an Indian, it said.

A special team of the Kathmandu police brought Kumar, who is believed to have conducted over 500 illegal operations in a decade, from Chitwan to the capital this morning covering 160 kms by road in a jeep.

He was kept at Hanumandhoka police station and interrogated by the police.

An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against the tainted doctor after the massive racket with inter-state and international ramifications came to light on January 24.

Kumar, who had checked into Room No 6 of the Hotel, 60 km from Raxaul in UP on the border, was sporting a cap and had noticed a news item about him in English daily ‘Himalayan Times’ which he had cut.

Suspicious over his action, the hotel receptionist is said to have tipped off the police about his presence and he was picked up in a joint operation by Interpol’s Nepal unit and local police.

Last week Interpol issued notices for the arrest of Kumar and his brother after the racket was busted in Gurgaon saying the two are the "subject of national arrest warrants for illegal transplanting of kidneys, cheating and criminal conspiracy."

"It is believed that during the past eight years around 500 people were forcibly operated on and their kidneys transplanted to foreign patients in a secret operating theatre," Interpol said.

Six people have been arrested in India over the scandal. (PTI)

SC refuses urgent hearing of MNS-derecognition plead

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The Supreme Court today refused to grant urgent hearing to a petition seeking derecognition of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), headed by Raj Thackeray, for launching a tirade against North Indians living in Maharashtra.

A bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran told the petitioner Arvind Shukla that there was no urgency in the matter and it was coming up for hearing on February 22.

The petitioner had demanded appropriate legal action against Thackeray for making inflammatory speeches leading to violence against North Indians , particularly those from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioner had also sought directions to the Election Commission to withdraw recognition of the MNS. Shukla has also prayed to the court to direct the Centre to intervene and ensure safety of North Indians living in Maharashtra. (UNI)

Haryana is on top in e-readiness among major states

PANCHKULA, Feb 8: From 15^{th in 2003, to
11th in 2004, to 9th in 2005 Haryana has
steadily risen up the ranks of
e-readiness in the country to now take
its position on the top among major
states on the e-readiness index according
to the latest e-readiness report compiled
by the National Council of Applied
Economic Research.}

^{The
report released by Union Communication
and Information Technology Minister, A.
Raja, at the inaugural session of the
two-day 11th National Conference on
e-Governance at Panchkula, near here, on
Thursday, is the fourth in the series of
such reports compiled since 2003 to rank
the states and UTs according to their
levels of e-readiness. Haryana is next
only to Delhi and Chandigarh,}

^{Revealing
this here today, Haryana Financial
Commissioner and Principal Secretary,
Electronics and IT, P K Chaudhery, said
the report had measured the e-Readiness
of the states in terms of their ability
to participate in the increasingly
networked world.}

^{Three
main quantitative and qualitative
indicators have been used in the
exercise: the environment that promotes
the spread and usage of information and
communication technology (ICT); the
readiness of different stake holders of
the economy (the Government-both the
initiatives of the Central Government and
the response of the State Governments,
businesses, and the individual) to use
ICT; and the degree of usage of ICT by
the three stake holders.}

^{Under
these indicators, Haryana ranks second in
terms of environment among the six states
in level 1, second in readiness among the
three states in level 1 and seventh among
the 14 states in level 2 of the usage
index. None of the states has qualified
for level 1 in the usage index.}

^{Chaudhery
said unlike on previous occasions, the
e-Readiness Report 2006 has been compiled
on the basis of a more comprehensively
designed questionnaire, including in it
some more relevant variables alongwith
appropriate consistency. Explaining
e-Readiness, he said it can be considered
as the ability to pursue value creation
opportunities facilitated by ICT.
Therefore, it is not simply a matter of
number of computers, websites, Internet
service providers, internet connections,
telephones and mobiles in the state, but
also the ability of readiness to use
technology skillfully at the level of the
individual, business and the Government.
Dwelling in details into the indicators,
Chaudhery said environment relates to
conditions prevailing in the state like
infrastructure and policies external to
the players involved in making
e-Governance effective. Readiness deals
with those characteristics of the players
that enable them to respond to an
environment that is enabling.
Qualification or training of individuals
in IT is an example of readiness. Usage,
on the other hand, is the actual usage of
IT given a conducive environment and
positive state of readiness, he added.}

^{He,
however, clarified that the methodology
used in compilation of the report does
not make absolute comparisons of the
three components of e-Readiness, and only
provides relative positions of states as
the indices indicate relative positioning
of states. (PTI)}

PM lays foundation stone of two rail lines

JHABUA, MP, Feb 8: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today laid the foundation stone of two railway lines on the Indore-Dahod and Chhota Udaipur-Dhar region.

The project costing Rs 1,289 crore project will cover Indore-Dahod - 210 km and Chhota Udaipur-Dhar - 157 km rail tracks.

Lauding the role of railways in the country’s development, Singh said the proposed railway tracks will not only accelerate economic and industrial growth of the region, but also provide adequate job opportunities for the tribals in western Madhya Pradesh.

Singh admitted that, "estern Madhya Pradesh has been deprived of development."

"Construction of the two rail lines will not only increase rail traffic, but would also attract heavy industries, besides generating thousands of jobs," he said.

"I expect that the railway tracks would be completed by 2011," he said in the presence of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Ministers Kantilal Bhuria, Suresh Pachauri and Naranjibhai Rathwa.

Speaking on the role of Indian Railways in the development of remote areas in the country, Singh said the Government has directed railways to connect remote areas through meter gauge rail tracks for speedy development.

The Prime Minister said the Centre had taken steps to upgrade facilities in railways, ports, airports and roads. This has yielded good results in some states.

Focussing on the large tribal gathering at the function, he said the Centre had ensured that the ownership rights of forest land cultivated by tribals would be safeguarded through the Forest Land Rights Act.

Singh asked Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to implement the Act without any further delay.

The remaining districts in the state will also be included in the National Rural Employment Scheme, he said. Presently 31 districts are covered in the state.

He also highlighted the initiatives taken by his Government in health and education sectors.

Referring to the migration of tribals from Jhabua region, Singh said the Centre would spend Rs three crore under the horticulture mission.

A sum of Rs 25 crore would be spent in the next five years in the region for upgrading agriculture and water sheds, he said, adding it would enable farmers to use advanced techniques of farming for raising their production.

He also hinted that Madhya Pradesh would get benefits of the Centre’s decision to set-up 30 more universities across the country. (PTI)

School kids take journalism lessons at World Book Fair

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Armed with notebooks and pens an army of ‘reporters’ mingling with the crowds of book lovers at the ongoing World Book Fair is furiously at work.

The scribes, all children aged between ten and fifteen years, are busy in the task of chronicling the daily activities at the Fair, flooding many visitors with their questions.

The ‘reporters’ race to meet deadlines for the ‘Akkad Bakkad Times,’ a tabloid covering all the major events and happenings occurring on the sidelines of the mega event.

The paper, conceived by the National Book Trust (NBT) is an unique initiative in collaboration with National Bal Bhavan, to encourage children with a creative bent of mind.

Apart from covering the routine daily activities, ‘Akkad-Bakkad Times’ also includes interviews of eminent personalities visiting the Fair, a collection of humorous cartoons titled ‘Natkhat-Soojhboojh’, a variety of poems as well as editorials, all produced by children.

"It is a great pleasure that even the editorial is penned by these children. And to edit a copy written by a school-going child needs a lot of patience but at the end it is really exciting," says Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, editor, NBT.

The 12 ‘journalists’, were chosen from different schools in Delhi by the National Bal Bhawan in its endeavor to explore their latent journalistic skills.

The tabloid is printed daily and distributed at all the stalls at the Fair apart from being dispatched to the NBT headquarters at the capital and the Bal Bhawan.

"These children were selected from a group on the basis of their performance during a training course on creative writing organised by the Bal Bhawan," says Jagdish Koli, manager, National Bal Bhawan.

"It is really exciting to see these children working the whole day enthusiastically running hall after hall at the Book Fair to find exclusive stories for the paper," Koli added.

Kinjal Das,a class six student, says he feels elated on seeing his name in the tabloid. He feels the pulse of being a reporter, when he covers any event or interviews visitors.

"It’s a fantastic feeling to see your name appearing in a tabloid with lot of people coming to recognize you through it. It’s make you and your parents feel proud," says Kinjal.

"I can’t explain in words the feeling of seeing my son’s name as a reporter. I really appreciate NBT’s effort to come out with such an unique concept. In the long run it will definitely help in augmenting a child’s innovative talent," says A K Das, his father.

Another journalist, Ishan Wadhwa, studying in class sixth of the Bal Bharti school was equally thrilled when asked about the experience.

"Journalism is my passion and that is why I joined ‘Akkad -Bakkad Times’. I love reading books and am with this initiative to give shape to my creative aspirations," he says.

"If I would have not allowed him for this activity,he would not have studied at home. He is very intelligent and wants do something extraordinary. That’s why I have allowed him to join this tabloid," says Meenu Wadhwa, mother of Ishan.

On being asked whether their studies is being affected owing to this engagement, she was quick to respond. "Ishan has been granted special permission from the school to attend this ongoing World Book Fair and to work for ‘Akkad-Bakkad Times’. (PTI)

Emotional reunion of two space heroes

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: It was a long-awaited meeting of two space heroes after a gap of 24 years.

The national capital witnessed the emotional reunion of two friends-Indian space man Rakesh Sharma and Soviet cosmonaut Anatoly Borozovoy, who trained together for the historic launch of 1984 Indo-Russian manned space mission.

"It is a very special feeling to meet Anatoly after all these years. We had lost touch in all these years but now as I met him today, it seems that time has passed so quickly but things between us remain the same," an emotional Sharma said after the reunion last evening.

"He was the commander of the back-up crew when my own crew was training for the space flight. Those were unforgettable moments," he said.

Sharing his happiness over the reunion, Borozovoy said, "It is one of the happiest days of my life in the last 24 years."

On his second visit to India, Borozovoy fondly recalled his meeting with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.

He said, "when she first met us, she told us that ‘I have a toothache but you have left me no time to fix my tooth’. We were touched because I felt it was very human on her part. She was like a mother to us. This kind of care and attention is never forgotten," he said.

The duo will now reunite in a training programme. Borozovoy and Sharma will conduct space lessons for Indian kids at the ongoing 18^{th New Delhi World Book
Fair.}

^{Sharma
recalled his long association with Russia and the
deep bonds which he formed with the people of
that country during his training for the space
mission.}

^{"I have
had the chance to work with many foreigners but I
feel culturally we are closest to the Russians.
They are quite like us, very emotional, easy to
cry and easy to laugh," Sharma said.}

^{Borozovoy,
who has conducted several workshops, is quite
impressed by the attention he received from
Indian kids. "The kids were really
interested in what I told them, very talented.
That’s my impression of them," he said.}

^{Borozovoy’s
advice to the young space aspirants who lined up
to take his autograph was, "You must have a
dream and the wish to realise the dream with
skill and perseverance. As a kid I was inspired
by Yuri Gagarin, but it took me 21 years and a
lot of hard work to finally realise my
dream."}

^{Sharma on his
part has one more wish after the reunion, to
visit Russia once again.}

^{"I have
told Borozovoy about my wish to come back to
Russia for a nostalgic trip. In 1984, it was all
work as the launch date was fixed and we had to
work hard to realise it," Sharma said. (PTI)}

AI launches 1^{st non-stop
Delhi-New York flight}

^{NEW
DELHI, Feb 8:}^{Air India today launched its
nonstop flight between Delhi and New York, the
first by any Indian air carrier.}

^{The
flight-AI-101-- bewteen Indira Gandhi
International Airport and JFK Airport will cut
down travel time between the two cities by at
least three hours. While the onward journey will
take 16 hours, it will be another two hours more
on the return.}

^{The Air India
had deployed its state-of-the-art Boeing 777-200
LR (Longer Range), a 238 seater aircraft for the
nonstop fight.}

^{This is Air
India’s second non-stop flight to the US,
the first being between Mumbai and New
York-launched on August 1, 2007.}

^{Air India now
plans to launch its third nonstop flight, most
probably between Bangalore and San Fransisco, a
senior A I official said.}

^{The Delhi-New
York flight would have the most convenient
timing, leaving Delhi at 0030 hrs and arriving
JFK at 0545 hrs. It will depart JFK at 1600 hrs
and arrive Delhi at 1630 hrs the next day.}

^{"The
timings will help passengers arriving in Delhi to
get connecting flights to major cities the same
evening," he said.}

^{The Delhi-New
York flight will have a convenio service-meals at
a time preferred by a passenger.}

^{It will also
offer the widest seats for more legroom. The
First Class will have eight seats that can be
transformed into flat beds.}

^{Passengers in
the Economy Class will also be provided enhanced
service and comfort levels. Each
ergonomically-designed seat will have a
therapeutic footrest installed in front for added
comfort during long haul travel.}

^{Passengers
will have a choice to select the entertainment
programmes from 250 hours of video and 150 hours
of audio programming. First Class passengers will
be able to view video programmes on a 23 inch
monitor-the largest monitor in any
class-Executive Class on a 15 inch monitor and
the Economy Class on a 10.4 inch monitor.}

^{"One can
start with Madhubala, go up to Madhuri and end up
with anything you want," the official said}

^{Air
India’s Maharaja will roll out a red carpet
for those travelling on the new flight.}

^{The
introductory fare, offered by the Airlines will
be Rs 30,700 plus taxes in the Economy Class, Rs
1.59 lakh plus taxes in the Executive Class and
Rs 3.57 lakh plus taxes in the First Class.}

^{The
passengers travelling in premium classes-First
and Executive-will get a free limousine pick up
and drop services to and from IGIA and JFK
Airport.}

^{They will
also receive a gift voucher of 75 dollars and 50
dollars, respectively for each sector of travel
for onboard duty free shopping.}

^{Members of
‘Flying Returns’, Air India’s
frequent flyer programme, will also receive
double mileage points. This introductory offer
will be valid till April 30.}

^{Those who
purchase tickets in India for travel by the
nonstop flight from Delhi or Mumbai in the
Economy Class on full published IATA fares can
avail of Air India’s competiton free scheme,
valid till March 31. (UNI)}

Taslima hopes India will not turn her back on visa renewal

KOLKATA, Feb 8: With just eight days left for the expiry of her visa, a worried Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen hoped that India will not "turn its back" on her and that it will grant extension on time to help her stay on.

Taslima(45) said she is also pinning her hopes on External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement in Parliament about India’s reputation for hospitality and that it welcomed guests as long as they respected the sentiments of people.

"I am always thinking about my stay. I am hopeful with eight days to go before the expiry of my visa, the Government will extend it on time," the controversial writer said on phone from her safehouse in Delhi.

If she was thrown out, "it will amount to murder of my most cherished ideals,perhaps a fate far worse than I could meet at the hands of any fundamentalists," said Taslima who was spirited out of Kolkata on November 22 last year following violence after a demand by a minority organisation that her visa be cancelled.

"If India turns its back on me I have nowhere to go, no means to survive. Even after all that has happened, I still believe, I still dream, that for a sincere, honest, secular writer, India is the safest refuge, the only refuge," said Taslima, who has been living in exile since 1994 after fundamentalists in Bangladesh issued a fatwa against her.

The author also said she still believed that she should be able to spend the rest of her life in the country, which she loved. "India is my country, my home."

The writer, who cannot meet her friends and well wishers and only can contact them through email or phone said though she had to spend this New Year’s day alone, it perhaps would not be the same next year.

Asked how she was spending her time, Taslima said that books and newspapers were her sole companions.

She also tried to write but was sometimes unable to concentrate under the present circumstances for the past two and half months after she left this metropolis.

"At times I write for hours in the morning, while at times I sit by myself," she said.

To a question, she said the draft of the autobiographical ‘Nei Kichu Nei’ (There is Nothing) could not be completed by her.

The book was originally scheduled to be published at the Kolkata Book Fair, which was not held after a Calcutta High Court directive.

She warmly appreciated the support from UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador 85-year old Gandhian Madanjeet Singh and personalities like Mahasweta Devi and Muchkund Dubey. (PTI)

SC to hear petition against Raj Thackeray on Feb 22

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The Supreme Court today refused to grant urgent hearing to a petition seeking direction to the Election Commission to derecognise Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) for his controversial remarks against north Indians.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said that the petition will be heard on February 22 as fixed by the registry.

The petition filed by advocate Arvind Shukla in the Supreme Court sought direction to the Election Commission to derecognise Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) for his controversial remarks against north Indians.

It sought directions to the Centre and the Maharashtra Government to take action against Thackeray alleging that his action had endangered the integrity of the nation.

Thackeray’s remarks were intended to cause hatred among people and if he and his party activists were not checked from indulging in unlawful activities it may lead to the situation of civil war, the petition contended.

The advocate in his petition said such a situation can be prevented if the Election Commission derecognises his party, MNS, which has been used as a "banner for attacking north Indians in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai".

The impact of Thackeray’s remarks was such that retaliatory attacks on Maharashtrians have been reportedly from Jharkhand, the petition maintained.

If immediate action was not taken it may result in a riot-like situation. There have been report that people involved in culture activities and film industries from other parts of the country have also been attacked, it said.

The petitioner said every citizen has a right under the Constitution to move around freely and settle in any part of the country. (PTI)

Lalu hints at ‘people friendly’ rail budget

JHABUA, MP, Feb 8: The rail budget for the year 2008-09 would be ‘people friendly’, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad indicated today.

"I will be presenting the rail budget on February 26 keeping the common man in mind," the Railway Minister said, after the foundation stone of the Dahod-Indore and Chhota Udaipur-Dhar rail lines was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The project is expected to cost Rs 1,286 crore.

Besides, Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Ministers - Kantilal Bhuriya, Suresh Pachouri and Naranjibhai Rathwa, were present.

According to sources, the 210 km long Indore-Dahod will cost Rs 679 crore, while 157 km Chhota Udaipur-Dhar rail line will cost Rs 609 crore.

The proposed Indore-Dahod railway track, which will pass through 20 stations, will act as a lifeline to the region, Prasad said.

The Railway Minister also announced plans for setting up of a sleeper rail coach factory in the tribal region.

The Indore-Dahod rail track will provide an alternative route from Delhi to Mumbai, via Dahod, Dhar, Dewas, Maksi, Shivpuri, Gwalior and Mathura.

Chhota Udaipur-Dhar rail line on the Mumbai-Delhi trunk route will connect Indore, Pithampur, Dhar and Alirajpur. (PTI)

Pak allows Bollywood flick ‘Welcome’ in theatres

KARACHI, Feb 8: Pakistan Government has shown signs of softening its stance on the long-standing ban on screening of Indian films by allowing the release of latest Bollywood blockbuster "Welcome" in theatres today.

The release of the film has come days after a Pakistan Senate standing committee on culture had recommended to the Government to allow exhibition of Indian films under a proper censorship policy.

"The Government has (previously) allowed Indian films which are not shot in India and made by producers not based there. But now the Government has adopted a softer stance which is a very good news for us," Nadeem Mandviwalla, a well-known distributor and exhibitor said.

Mandviwalla’s famous ‘Nishat’ cinema in the heart of Karachi also showed films ‘Awarapaan’ and ‘Goal’ when they were released and is now exhibiting "Welcome". All the films have done very good business so far, he said.

"People want to see the latest movies with sellable stars. That is the reason why ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ and ‘Taj Mahal’, which were allowed by the Government in 2006, did not do good business," he said.

Currently, there are three Indian movies-‘Goal’, ‘Gangster’ and ‘Welcome’-running in different theatres in the country.

Saadia Khan, a college student who had lined up at the ‘Nishat’ cinema yesterday with a group of friends to get advance tickets for ‘Welcome’ said it was good that latest Indian movies had been allowed by the government.

"When they are already available on DVDs and CDs, what is wrong in showing them on cinema. In the theatres, Government and censor board can even ensure that objectionable scenes are censored," she said.

Saadia said she had already seen "Welcome" on a pirated print disc but wanted to see actors like Akshay Kumar and Nana Patekar on the big screen.

"Movies are supposed to be fun to watch. The quality of Indian films has improved a lot and most of their stars are household names in Pakistan. We are now waiting to see when the Government allows a Shahrukh Khan-film to be released in the country," another student Asad Kaleem said.

Earlier, the Chairman of a Pakistan Senate committee on culture Zafar Iqbal had said that he had recommended to the Government to allow exhibition of Indian films under a proper censorship policy.

Iqbal said this would ensure a healthy competition and revive the local film industry.

Citing the example of well-known Pakistani film "Khuda Ke Liye", he said "I don’t think the apprehensions, that by allowing Indian films to be released, we might destroy the local industry, are true."

The Pakistan Government had imposed a ban on the display of Indian films in cinema halls in 1965, although they have been freely available in the pirated market on VCDs and DVDs to a big audience.

In recent years, President Pervez Musharraf has adopted a moderate policy on the issue.

Since the last one year, number of Indian films have been released for exhibition in cinema halls and some of them have also done very good business. (PTI)