Moitra was probably blackmailing
Pramod: Pravin’s appeal says

MUMBAI, Jan 23: Sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his elder brother Pramod Mahajan, Pravin has said in his appeal before the Bombay High Court that the senior BJP leader was being blackmailed by his secretary Vivek Moitra.

Pravin was sentenced by a sessions court last month and he has filed an appeal in the High Court.

A part of his deposition-dealing with sequence of events at Pramod’s residence before Pravin shot him-was recorded in-camera.

In the appeal, Pravin has said he went to meet Pramod on the morning of April 22, 2006 as he wanted to tell him that his secretary Vivek Moitra should not blackmail him (Pramod).

The appeal does not say why and how Moitra blackmailed Pramod. It only says Moitra "in all probability was blackmailing Pramod".

Pramod did not say anything when Pravin asked him as to how Moitra came to know about the BJP leader’s relationship with one Alaknanda, the appeal says.

"This prompted Pravin to say that Pramod was a fit candidate for blackmail," the appeal added.

Then, according to Pravin, Pramod made certain remarks about the former’s wife Sarangi. Pravin felt there was no use discussing the matter further, so he picked up the pistol lying on teapoy and was ready to leave.

Pramod however feared he wanted to do something, so he tried to grab the pistol, and shots were fired accidentally in the ensuing scuffle, the appeal says.

As to the trial court’s verdict, the appeal says court should not have considered testimonies of Pramod’s wife Rekha and his brother-in-law and senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde as both were "tutored" witnesses.

Rekha Mahajan tried to "invent" a false motive by telling the court that Pravin had demanded Rs one crore from Pramod a few days before the murder, it says.

The court should not have give credence to a threatening SMS sent by Pravin to Pramod either, appeal says, adding it was demonstrated before trial court by an expert witness that SMS could be tampered with.

It also questions Mahajan’s statement to Munde on the way to hospital ‘What was my offence that Pravin shot me?’

It says Rekha had not mentioned this in her statement to police, though she was in the car when Pramod was talking with Munde.

Mahajan would not have been in the condition to speak after losing so much blood, it says. It further points out that Pramod always called Pravin as Chandu, not by his name. (PTI)

Cong strength up in Goa assembly with SGF merger

PANAJI, Jan 23: Seven month old Save Goa Front (SGF), a regional outfit launched by former Congressman Churchill Alemao, today formally merged with the Congress party.

This merger has increased the Congress strength from 16 to 18 legislators in the 40-member Goa Assembly. Two MLAs-Alemao and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco-have joined the Congress as a result of the merger.

The Congress-led coalition is ruling the coastal state and SGF was a part of the Government. Alemao was a member of the cabinet.

"Alemao was always a Congressman... He was away from the party over some differences. We are happy that he is back," Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat told reporters after completing the merger formalities at Congress house here.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Fransisco Sardinha, along with other state party leaders, was present at the function held this morning.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had given her nod for the merger last week.

"Merger has made Congress stronger," Kamat said.

Alemao, a former Congress MP, had left the party before the June two Goa Assembly elections to form his own outfit.

The SGF contested polls from 18 seats defeating two former Congress Chief Ministers-Fransisco Sardinha and Luizinho Faleiro.

The SGF was not a part of the Congress-led alliance till August last year when the Digamber Kamat-led government plunged into a minority after the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) was formed.

The GDA had SGF, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, United Goans Democratic Party and independent legislator Anil Salgaoncar as its part.

Alemao, who deserted GDA and supported Kamat-led government, was given a cabinet berth.

In the recent crisis, which saw NCP rebelling against Kamat, Alemao was with the Congress party.

SGF’s merger in Congress is looked upon as an attempt by the former to consolidate its strength in the assembly to avoid frequent toppling games. (PTI)

HP bans use of mobile phones by
teachers/students in classroom

SHIMLA, Jan 23: With an aim to enforce strict discipline in educational institutions, the Himachal Pradesh government has banned use of mobile phones by teachers and students in classroom.

"Use of mobile phones by teachers or students has been prohibited in the classroom in all the Government educational institutions right from primary level to college," State’s Education Minister Ishwar Das Dhiman said today.

In case of emergency, the teachers could use the cell phone in staff room during free time, Dhiman, himself a former principal of a Government High School, said.

An order in this effect has already been issued, he said adding their aim was to prevent any distraction during study hours in educational institutions.

Teachers have to switch off their mobile phones as soon as they enter the premises of their respective institute, Dhiman said adding anybody found violating the order would be dealt with severely.

The action has been taken in view of reports of disturbances in class room due to use of mobile phones by teachers. (PTI)

Centre wants Netaji Research Bureau in Delhi

KOLKATA, Jan 23: The Centre wants a branch of the Netaji Research Bureau in Delhi to bring into greater focus the life and work of Subhas Chandra Bose whose writings form the basis of the country’s Look East Policy, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today.

"Delhi being our national capital, a Centre of Netaji Research Bureau is needed there, keeping its main activities here. The Prime Minister is also willing. We will have to make this happen," Mukherjes said at the traditional gathering at Netaji’s ancestral house here on the occasion of his 111^{th birth anniversary.}

^{Stating that the possibilities of India’s greater ties with the eastern countries had been indicated by Netaji in his writings, Mukherjee said that the Government’s Look East policy was based on Bose’s ideas.}

^{He said, "Until 1914, the then Burma (now Myanmar) was under the jurisdiction of the Calcutta University. Upto 1930, Burma was being administered from India."}

^{Pointing out that trade between India and the 15 eastern countries stood at USD 330 billion, he said of this USD 150 billion were export earnings while import expenditure accounted for USD 150 billion. "We need to increase economic ties with these countries."}

^{The gathering was organised by the Netaji Research Bureau.}

^{Pointing out that a public leader usually got two kinds of recognition, from the state and from the people, Mukherjee said there was no doubt that Netaji had long been recognised by the people as their leader.}

^{"There is no city in the country where you will not find at least one memorial on Netaji. This shows how the people have recognised him. Very few leaders have this privilege," he said.}

^{Mukherjee, however, did not comment on whether Netaji had been adequately recognised by the state.}

^{Lauding Netaji Research Bureau for its activities in bringing Bose’s life and writings to the public, the minister called for a clinical analytical approach in studying the events that shaped Netaji’s life.}

^{West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi described Netaji as an icon, but said if he had become one, it was despite himself and it was not himself but the country that he sought to put on the pedestal.}

^{"Netaji created a new definition of the icon ... He was free from the burden of incumbency," Gandhi said.}

^{Earlier, welcoming the guests, Netaji’s grand nephew Prof Sougata Bose said the people of India had always had a correct assessment of the leader and it did not matter whether or not he received state recognition.}

^{Stating that Netaji did not ask the people to make sacrifices which he himself was not willing to make, he said, "Netaji did not complain on being eased out of the Congress and showed the world what he could do by forming the INA."}

^{A set of three CDs-one containing Netaji’s voice and the other two INA music-was released by Mukherjee while Gandhi released the current issue of Netaji Research Bureau’s publication ‘The Oracle.’ (PTI)}

The Indian connections at this year’s Oscars

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: India’s official entry for this year’s Oscars may have failed to make it to the grade but the 80^{th Annual Academy Awards will still have a couple of Indian connections.}

^{Shekhar Kapur’s "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" has received two nominations-best actress for Aussie star Cate Blanchett and best costume.}

^{Incidentally, "Elizabeth", a sequel to "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and also directed by Kapur, had won an Oscar in 1998 for best makeup (Jenny Shircore).}

^{Also a nominee in best actress category for her role in "Away from Her", Julie Christie has her roots in India.}

^{The veteran actress, who already has an Oscar in her bag (for her performance in Darling in 1965), was born in a tea garden in Assam in 1941.}

^{Her father was the manager of the Chabua tea estate. But the family left for London when Christie was six years old.}

^{This year, India’s entry in the foreign film category-Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s "Eklavya - The Royal Guard" failed to make it to the final five.}

^{The first Indian to win an Oscar was Bhanu Athaiya for costume design in Richard Attenborough’s film "Gandhi" in 1982.}

^{Satyajit Ray was given a Special Oscar-the Academy Honorary Award in 1992 -- for his contribution to world cinema.}

^{Actor Kamal Hasan has the credit of receiving the highest nominations by an Indian. Six of his movies have been sent as India’s official entries to the Academy Awards. (PTI)}

Ghazals need reality shows-type platform: Pankaj Udhas

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: His "Chithi Aayee Hai", "Chandi Jaisa Rang" and "Deewaron Se Milkar Rona" are still hummed by youths and elders alike. But ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, who gave us these hits, feels a reality show-type platform is needed now to boost his type of singing.

"The focus has shifted nowadays. The young generation is attracted by the talent hunt shows that provide fast bucks and instant fame," he says.

"What we need is a platform on the lines of these reality shows to boost ghazal singing and listening," Udhas said in an interview.

He goes on to say that some attempts made in this regard met little success.

"In our own way we had tried some ghazal contests a few years back but the response was far from satisfactory," said Udhas, who recently released his new album - "Endless Love-Kitni Yaad Aati Hai".

"Maybe the hard work in ghazal singing do not appeal to singers nowadays," he rues.

But Udhas feels electronic channels have a lot to contribute in this regard. "If they (the channels) devote some time to promotion of ghazals and classical music forms, a lot of good will be done."

He will be next heard singing in Sanjay Chhel’s film "Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam", likely to be released in April and which stars Rahul Bose and Kay Kay Menon.

His "Chithi Aayee Hai", from the Sanjay Dutt-starrer film "Naam", was adjudged one of the millennium’s 100 best songs by a recent BBC poll. But "Chandi Jaisa Rang" is his favourite.

Udhas, however, says there is a tremendous audience for ghazals within and outside India. US Senator Hillary Clinton once gave him a letter of appreciation for his album "Nuumaish" after listening to him at a concert in New York some years ago.

According to him, "Endless Love-Kitni Yaad Aati Hai" is a unique album as it has been inspired by messages and agony aunt columns in newspapers.

"The messages in these spaces in newspapers are quite interesting. And the best thing is that there is some sort of poetry attached to these messages," he says, adding the name of this album was inspired by Diana Ross’ song "Endless Love".

Udhas, who was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2006, also makes an effort through the album to "shed the misconception that ghazals cannot be popular in India".

He says singers of his generation has a larger role to play to further the cause of ghazals.

"We have been doing so for so many years. But we need the help of everyone, particularly the media." (PTI)

UP sends third reminder to Centre
seeking SPG cover for Mayawati

LUCKNOW, Jan 23: Citing tremendous threat to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Chief Minister Mayawati, the Uttar Pradesh government has shot off another reminder to the Union Home Ministry seeking Special Protection Group (SPG) cover for her.

Principal secretary (Home) J N Chamber confirmed to UNI here that a reminder has been sent to the Centre three days ago.

The third reminder comes close on the heels of X-ray films being hurled at the convoy of Ms Mayawati during her rally in Raipur, the capital of Chattisgarh recently. Black flags were also shown to her during her public rally.

The SPG cover is so far reserved only for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, their families, as well as the Gandhi family.

In a letter to Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta dated December 28, 2007, UP Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said the Chief Minister faced ‘tremendous threat’ from terror outfits. The letter said the UP Chief Minister should be immediately provided with an SPG cover to guard her ‘round-the-clock.’

Another reason cited by the state cabinet secretary for extending the elite security cover to Mayawati is that she has to travel to various parts of the country in connection with her party work and it was, therefore, necessary to have a centralised command for her security.

Besides the state police Cobra commandos, Ms Mayawati is also protected by the National Security Guard ‘Black Cat’ commandos.

So far the Union government has not responded to the request of the state government but there were reported talks of increasing her NSG cover.

Providing SPG cover to Ms Mayawati would need a change in the SPG Act by Parliament.

After the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991, the SPG Act was amended in 1991 to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate families for a period of 5 years from the date on which the former Prime Minister ceased to hold office.

Meanwhile, a senior Governmnent official has strongly refuted a report that the UP Government had any plans to seek Israeli security cover for Ms Mayawati. (UNI)

3 Indian trains feature in world’s
top 25 iconic rail adventures

NEW DELHI, Jan 23: Three heritage trains of Indian Railways-The Palace on Wheels, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway or Toy Train and the Deccan Odyssey-have been listed among the world’s top 25 iconic rail adventures.

The two other trains from the Asian region to feature in the coveted list are Eastern & Oriental Express (South East Asia) and Shangri-La Express (China).

The list of these celebrated trains has been published by a US-based Society of International Railway Travellers (SIRT) in a special edition of its magazine to celebrate its 25^{th anniversary.}

^{The trains, chosen on the basis of travelling experience of the people, met stringent standards for service, accommodation, scenery, itinerary, off-train experiences and passenger enjoyment.}

^{SIRT chief Eleanor Hardy said the 25 trains chosen represented the group’s best-loved railway journeys.}

^{The Palace on Wheels, comprising 14 air-conditioned deluxe saloons and equipped with world class amenities, is the flagship train of Indian Railways in luxurious travelling and travels between New Delhi and Rajasthan.}

^{All the coaches of this resplendent train are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini}

^{pantry, packed with hot and cold beverages and refreshments, and a place to relax and get together.}

^{The second Indian train to figure on the global list is the Toy Train or The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which is a narrow gauge railway that runs from Siliguri to Darjeeling in West Bengal. The train, built between 1879 and 1881, still powered by a steam engine. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.}

^{Deccan Odyssey, the third train from India that has made the global list, is a luxury train that travels through Central India over a period of eight days, and has stopovers in Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Sawantwadi, Goa, Pune, Aurangabad and Nasik.}

^{This train has 21 coaches out of which 11 are passenger cars and two presidential suite cars. It also has a conference car, which can be doubled as dance floor in the night and two restaurant cars. In addition, there is a spa car.}

^{While there are three trains from India, it is Canada which tops the list with four of its railways finding a place in it. These are: Canadian, Royal Canadian Pacific, Canadian Rockies Steam Express and Rocky Mountaineer.}

^{From North America, there are two trains-GrandLuxe Express (US) and Sierra Madre Express (Mexico).}

^{There are two trains from South America and both of them belong to Peru. They are Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham.}

^{‘Blue Train’ and ‘Pride of Africa ((Rovos Rail) are the two trains from South Africa, which also find a mention in the list.}

^{Three trains from Australia-The Ghan, The Indian Pacific and The Sunlander-and seven trains from Europe-Danube Express (Turkey), Al Andalus Express (Spain), El Transcantabrico (Spain), Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express (Russia), Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Europe), Glacier Express (Switzerland) and Royal Scotsman (Scotland) -- complete the list of 25 trains. (UNI)}