Aga Khan arrives on week-long visit

NEW DELHI, May 12: The spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims Aga Khan arrived here this morning on a week-long visit to commemorate his 50^{th year as the 49th Imam of the Shia I}smaili Muslims.

The Aga Khan will meet President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top leaders during his two-day stay in the capital.

He travels to Hyderabad on Wednesday where he had laid the foundation stone of the Aga Khan Academy about two years back.

The 71-year-old spiritual leader of millions of Ismail Muslims across the world will also hold discussions with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L K Advani.

Aga Khan is also scheduled to visit Mumbai and Ahmedabad later in the week before leaving for a tour of Bangladesh on Monday next.

The Aga Khan Foundation set up by the spiritual leader is involved in many philanthropic activities and had played a key role in the renovation of the Humayun’s Tomb in the capital.

The Foundation runs educational institutions including universities in countries like the UK, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Syria and Egypt. (PTI)

TRS thrust byelections on AP for its survival: Venkaiah

HYDERABAD, May 12: Accusing the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) of thrusting the May 29 byelections on the people of Andhra Pradesh for its "political survival," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today said the bypolls were no referendum on the issue of statehood for Telangana.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the party would contest the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on its own.

The byelections would not have any bearing on the state politics, he opined and asked why the TRS had, in the first place, aligned with the Congress party in the state.

Mr Naidu welcomed the support extended by the TRS (Narendra) party to the BJP in Musheerabad Assembly constituency.

He, however, dismissed as "hypothetical" whether the BJP was inclined to TRS(N) party’s merger.(UNI)

Rushdie favourite as voting for Best
of Booker begins today

LONDON, May 12: Global public voting to decide the ‘Best of the Booker’ begins today even as bookmakers favoured Controversial Indian-origin writer Salman Rushdie’s ‘Midnight’s Children’ to win from the shortlist of six books that won the prestigious prize in previous years.

The ‘Best of the Booker’, a one-off celebratory award to mark the 40th anniversary of the Booker Prize, announced the six shortlisted books.

The other five authors in the race are Pat Barker (The Ghost Road), Peter Carey (Oscar and Lucinda), J M Coetzee (Disgrace), J G Farrell (The Siege of Krishnapur) and Nadine Gordimer (The Conservationist).

The shortlist was selected by a panel of judges - the biographer, novelist and critic Victoria Glendinning, (Chair); writer and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, and John Mullan, Professor of English at University College, London.

Glendinning said: "It was a great experience, revisiting all the Booker and Man Booker Prize winners, and very tough arriving at the shortlist - but we really feel that the six novels we picked represent the best fiction-writing of the past 40 year and that each one of them will stand the test of time"

The winner will be chosen by the public voting.

The public are able to cast their vote through online partnerships with national and international media, with libraries, reading groups and book retailers, millions of people across the globe have the opportunity of registering their votes for their favourite book from the shortlist.

The only time that a celebratory award has previously been created for ‘the Booker’ was in 1993 - the 25th anniversary - when Rushdie won the Booker of Bookers with Midnight’s Children. (PTI)

Speed up work on advanced technologies, PM tells DRDO

NEW DELHI, May 12: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told defence scientists to speed up work on advanced technologies like hypersonic propulsions, unmanned vehicles and stealth machines to keep pace with current trends in warfare.

Emphasising that the country will leave no stone unturned to ensure requisite level of defence preparedness, Singh said keeping pace with technologies like smart materials, micro and nano technologies and robotics would enable India to contend with emergence and growth of non-conventional and asymmetric warfare.

Stressing that self reliance and defence preparedness was not a case of numbers or percentages, the Prime Minister, addressing Technology Day function here, said scientists should clearly define strategic and critical areas in which development of national capability is a must.

"We must pursue this goal with determination and long term perspective," Singh said as he voiced his government’s determination to broadbase the defence industry in the country.

The Prime Minister’s comments came after the country’s top defence scientist M Natarajan said that his organisation the DRDO was facing "definite capacity constraints".

Natarajan said "it is impossible for DRDO to cater to entire spectrum of products and services required by army, navy and air force and spoke for more active private industry participation in defence research."

The Prime Minister said the country’s resources, infrastructure capabilities and intellectual capital-in both public and private sectors-should be treated as national assests and carefully nurtured and optimally utilised.

Natarajan also made a case for establishing and expanding capability in propulsion, navigation, sensors and special materials and said there was a crying need to invest heavily in basic research in universities and academic institutions.

He said till this stage was reached, India would have to do with strategic tie ups for specific armament systems with certain countries on whom the country can depend.

Touching on these issues, the Prime Minister said "development of high technologies is a complex and time-consuming process."

"However, with the long experience and expertise now available with DRDO and the industry, all efforts must be made to ensure timely deliveries of technologies and equipment to our defence forces," Singh said.

"Appropriate technological solutions to problems faced by our defence services will help optimise their combat effectiveness. It should also promote the well-being of our troops," the Prime Minister said.

He said the scientific and engineering talent should be given all encouragement by providing a world class environment with state-of-the-art R&D facilities to nurture creativity and innovation.

At the same time, Singh stressed on the need to encourage the development of private-public partnerships based on sound business and financial criteria.

"This will ensure that critical products and systems are available at affordable cost," he said.

The Prime Minister said currently the country’s economy could sustain greater investments in the area of defence research and development.

Any greater investment, Singh said would raise expectations that India attains greater achievement and levels of self-reliance to safeguard our security and independence.

He said India’s internal priorities and external policies are closely linked and seek an international order that is stable, just and conducive to meeting the challenges of poverty alleviation, unemployment and inequalities.

"We seek a harmonious environment in our neighbourhood and a web of linkages that facilities mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.

Patting the country’s scientists and engineers for the recent successful launch of Agni-III missile, the Prime Minister said this indicated "our technological strength."

"There have been noteworthy achievements in other areas," he said and listed out integration of weapons and sensors in the Light Combat Aircraft in its road to operational clearance.

Singh said the production of first squadron of the Light Combat Aircraft has been taken up concurrently.

Crucial steps have also been taken in electronic warfare, radar and communication systems, materials technology and the life sciences, Singh said.

The Prime Minister also had words of praise for the Indo-Russian Joint Venture BrahMos, saying "it is a shining example of international cooperation in the area of defence technology". (PTI)

Jannat’s Pak Premier is a dream come true: Mahesh Bhatt

NEW DELHI, May 12: He is known for discovering new talents in singing and acting from across the border, but premiering his latest film ‘Jannat’ in Lahore is a dream come true for producer Mahesh Bhatt.

"When I first went to Pakistan, I had dreamed of making a film which will premier in Pakistan. It seemed a ridiculous dream at that time given the difficult situations. So, this premier is a like a dream which has come true for me," Mahesh Bhatt said.

The film, which is co-produced by Pakistan’s Suhail Khan will open to a gala premier in Lahore’s Gulistan studio with the entire star cast of the film on May 13th.

On his part, Bhatt believes that mutual trust is the only way for the two countries to prosper and the beginning has already been made through creative exchange. He, however, refuses to take the entire credit for it saying, "It is a triumph of all those sane people who have refused to gravitate towards the philosophy of hatred."

When asked about the fear of Pakistani film producers and directors that Indian film industry is trying to take over Pakistani film industry, Bhatt says, "I think the fear of Pakistani film industry is very legitimate. Indian film makers need to behave more sensibly and responsibly. The audio-visual medium is too powerful to be in the hands of few people. They have every right to tell their story. We can not monopolise," he cautions.

According to him the solution lies in the equal exchange of ideas and films.

"Exhibition sector in Pakistan has come back to life and it is limping back to normalcy. But the problem is that they only want to show Indian films so what is going to happen to a Pakistani light boy," Mahesh Bhatt says adding that "If the creative exchange does not translate into wealth for Pakistan, it will remain an unfair exchange."

He also fears that the monopolisation by Indian entertainment industry may force Pakistani producers and directors to form a lobby against Indian films as some factions are very angry with the intrusion of Indian cinema there.

He says, "My film is a co production. The producer will take all the money that is generated by the film there and invest it in a co production again,"

Bhatt says he will continue to bring both countries together, "When I started my efforts, my well wishers had cautioned me that I will be looked upon as a traitor for extending social ties with the so called enemy territory, but I reject that mindset." he says.

‘Jannat’ also has a song by Pakistani singer Kamaran, which is already topping music charts. Bhatt camp’s last film ‘Awaraapan’ featuring their blue eyed boy Emraan Hashmi was a huge hit in Pakistan last time.

The visit for the premier of ‘Jannat’ will see some more cross-border productions, he promises.

"We are planning to announce a co production in Pakistan. In fact, it should not necessarily mean Hind or Urdu film. Punjabi films are immensely popular there. So we may make a Punjabi film which will have 70 per cent artists and technicians from Pakistan and 30 per cent from India," he says. (PTI)

SC dismisses bail plea of Manu Sharma
in Jessica murder case

NEW DELHI, May 12: The Supreme Court today refused to grant bail to Siddharth Vashist alias Manu Sharma, who is serving life sentence in the Jessica Lall murder case.

A bench comprising Justices C K Thakker and D K Jain, while declining to suspend the sentence, noted "It is not a fit case to exercise power under article 136 of the Constitution and also under Section 389 of the CrPC for suspension of sentence."

The Judges said, "Initial presumption of innocence is also not available to Manu Sharma as he has already being convicted and sentenced by Delhi High Court. We are of the opinion that no-case has been made out for suspension of sentence."

"We make it clear that we have expressed no opinion on the merit of the case and it will be decided on its own merit whenever it comes up for hearing without being influenced by any of the observations made by us in this judgement."

"We are conscious and mindful that we are not entering into the merits of the main appeal which has already been admitted by this court and is listed for hearing on merit."

Jessica Lall was shot dead by Manu Sharma on January 23, 1999 for refusing to serve liqour to him and his friend at odd hours at night after the bar had been closed.

The victim was working as bar tender in a restaurant being run by socialite Bina Ramani who was considered as eyewitness by Delhi High Court, which reversed the order of aquittal passed by the trial court in 2003. The then additional sessions judge S L Bhayana who had aquitted all the nine accused in the case was elevated to Delhi High Court within a week and is presently the sitting judge of High Court.

The present Police Commissioner of Delhi Y S Dudwal was transferred out of Delhi following a media report that he along with other senior officers of Delhi Police was present at the time of crime.

The Delhi High Court reversed the order of aquittal and a two-judge bench headed by the then Justice R S Sodhi censured the sitting judge of Delhi High Court justice Bhayana while reversing the order of aquittal in 2006.

Sr Counsel Ram Jethmalani appearing for Sharma had contended before the apex court that the High Court had acted under the influence and pressure from media and interfered with the aquittal order on erroneous ground without appreciating the evidence in the proper perspective. (UNI)

MP Congress slams BJP over corruption

BHOPAL, May 12: The directive issued by BJP’s Madhya Pradesh poll in-charge Venkaiah Naidu to the Ministers and MLAs not to take donations in the party’s name is an admission that they were indulging in such a practice, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Suresh Pachouri said today.

"By issuing such a directive, Naidu has accepted that ruling party’s Ministers and MLAs were indulging in collecting donations. Otherwise, there is no need for it," he said.

Pachouri was speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum to the State Election Commission alleging irregularities in the voters’ list in Madhya Pradesh, where Assembly polls are due later this year.

"Not just Ministers and MLAs, but even small party workers are involved in neck-deep corruption in the state."

Pachouri said he will stage a sit-in here tomorrow as part of the Opposition party’s statewide protest to highlight the "non-fulfillment" of promises made by the ruling BJP to the people in the state.

On the issue of Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh’s critical comments agaisnt the party leadership and decision- making in Congress, he said the AICC spokesman has already clarified the position in this regard and therefore the matter should end now. (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi to visit Orissa today

NEW DELHI, May 12: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Orissa tomorrow and would address youth conferences as well as attend a meeting of industrial workers during his one-day tour of the state.

Buoyed by the success of Gandhi’s previous tour of the state just two months ago, the Youth Congress which had undertaken a membership drive for the last two months, would organise two meeting separately of the Tribal and Dalit youths in Cuttack tomorrow, to be addressed by Gandhi.

Gandhi is also scheduled to address a public meeting at Angul in the morning hours before reaching Cuttack, party sources said.

The Angul public meeting is being organised by the Indian National Trade Union Congress(INTUC).

During his March trip, Gandhi had met the leaders of the INTUC in Angul town and discussed about various issues including the demand for grant of Navratna status to National Aluminium Company Limited.

"NALCO has already been conferred the Navratna status by a government notification in the last week of April. The workers have invited Gandhi to thank him for successfully taking up their demand before the Central Government," youth Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said.

The Amethi MP campaigned for the second phase of the Karnataka polls in Mysore region and other districts today. (PTI)

Rana dares BJP to withdraw support from SAD

JALANDHAR, May 12: Accusing the BJP for indulging in "Political opportunism" by continuing its alliance with Shiromani

Akali Dal (SAD) in spite of its expressed fear of ‘large scale rigging’ in the ensuing Panchayat election, Congress MP Rana Gurjit Singh today dared BJP to withdrawn support from the SAD.

Cabinet Minister Manoranjan Kalia and Deputy Speaker Satpal

Gosain have already expressed the fear of large scale rigging in

the election, which has strengthened the fear of opposition party

of Congress, Rana stated here while appealing to BJP to either withdraw support from the State Government or be ready to share

the responsibility of ‘mal-practice’ in the ensuing polls.

Violence at Taran Taran district late last night between SAD

and BJP workers has exposed the relationship between the two ruling alliance partners and it has been proved that SAD was not

only indulging in political vendetta against opposition party of

Congress, but was not sparing its own alliance partner BJP, Congress MP added.

"How can anybody expect free and fair by-election on Amritsar

assembly seat, Zila Parisad and Block Samiti election, when leaders of ruling alliance partner BJP are also apprehending rigging in the election", he quipped?

It has been proved that political alliance between BJP and

SAD was nothing short of an alliance of political opportunism, as

be it issue withdrawal of hike in power tariff (decision on Rs 292 crore subsidy still pending), displaying of portrait of Bhindrawale in the Museum of Golden Temple or open favour of formation of Khalistan by Akal Thakht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, BJP has failed to clarify its stand on any of such issues, he said.

It was very strange that although in his autobiography "My

Country My Life", former Deputy Prime Minister clearly opposed the policies of Akalis, but still both the parties were continuing with the "unholy political alliance", he said.

BJP should clarify that whether it wanted to continue its alliance with SAD or continue to adopt the ‘double standard’ to

make fool of the public by opposing the SAD in public and supporting the same in assembly, he vowed.

Congress will win all the parliamentary seats in the coming

Lok Sabha election, as people are waiting for an opportunity to

teach the lesson to both BJP and SAD. (PTI)

Rise in cases of custodial deaths in the country

NEW DELHI, May 11: With the number of custodial deaths showing an increasing trend, the Union Home Ministry has issued guidelines to all State Governments and Union Territories to inform the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) about such incidents within 24 hours of occurrence.

In 2007-08, the number of police custodial deaths was 188, up from 118 in 2006-07, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said. There were 136 such deaths in 2004-05 and the figure rose to 139 in the next year.

"The NHRC has recommended departmental or disciplinary action as well as initiation of prosecution against delinquent officials in cases where, prima facie, cases of custodial violence is established," Jaiswal said.

During the last three years and the current year, the NHRC has recommended disciplinary action in eight cases and prosecution in three cases, he said, adding the NHRC has also awarded a total interim relief or compensation of Rs.69.45 lakh in cases of deaths in police custody.

Concerned over the increase in the number of custodial deaths, the Home Ministry has circulated important guidelines, as directed by the Supreme Court, to be followed by all authorities concerned while making arrests, he said.

The States and Union Territories have been directed to monitor closely the implementation of the guidelines.

Amendments have been proposed in the CrPC through the code of Criminal Procedure (amendment) Bill to incorporate the guidelines and certain other provisions regarding arrests, Home Ministry sources said.

The section 176 of the CrPC has already been amended to provide that in case of death or disappearance of a person or rape of a woman while in custody of police, there shall be a mandatory judicial inquiry.

In case of death, examination of the body has to be conducted within 24 hours of death.

Besides, components relating to human rights have been incorporated in the training curriculum for Police and Central Para-Military forces.

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) as well as the State Police authorities on Human Rights issues regularly conduct seminars and workshops.

Police at all levels are being sensitised to issues related to human rights, they said.

States and UTs have been directed to constitute the State Human Rights Commissions.

"But there are many states that have not yet done so despite repeated reminders from the Centre," Jaiswal said.

He said those states, mostly small ones, take the alibi of shortage of funds. "Every state should realise that this is an important issue and should not be ignored," he added. (PTI)