NEW DELHI, May 14: The Information and Broadcasting ministry is in discussion with Health Ministry to revise its anti-tobacco notification for films.
The notification was issued by the Health Ministry last year.
“Several filmmakers and the Central Board of Film Certification have brought to the notice of I&B ministry some practical difficulties being faced by them in implementing the tobacco notification…It is in discussion with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to revise the notification,” Minister of State for I&B ministry S Jagathrakshakan today informed Rajya Sabha.
The health ministry had in October last year issued rules that mandated 30-second anti-tobacco health spots to be shown at the beginning and middle of movies and TV programmes which depict tobacco use, besides running a scroll of anti-tobacco health warnings during these scenes.
In response to another question, Jagathrakshakan said there have been a gradual growth in Prasar Bharati’s revenue generation in the last three years though revenue deficit has increased due to hike in pay and allowances, etc. (PTI)

GHAZIABAD, May 14: A special court here today directed the CBI to provide probe-related CDs to the defence counsel and fixed May 16 as the next date of hearing in the sensational double murder case of dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar’s daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.
The court is likely to hear arguments on framing of charges from both the sides when the case comes up for hearing on Wednesday, four years after the murders took place in 2008 at the Talwars’ residence in neighbouring Noida.
CBI counsel R K Saini said the defence lawyers were today provided the report prepared by the first Investigation Officer (IO) of the case—Dataram Nauneria of Uttar Pradesh Police.
Saini said the court also directed the agency to provide the accused certain CDs related to the probe in the case. Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were present in the court.
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shyam Lal had on May 11 reserved its order on the Talwars’ plea about deficiency in case-related documents provided to them by the investigating agency.
The CBI had then told the court that the agency had provided all relevant documents to them and had withheld only those on which it was not relying for the couple’s prosecution.
14-year-old Aarushi was found murdered on the intervening night of May 16-17, 2008 at her Noida residence and the body of Hemraj was found on the terrace of the house the next day.
The judge had earlier orally asked the CBI to give all the documents to the Talwars “for the sake of justice”.
Special Judicial Magistrate Preeti Singh had on May 9 sent the case for sessions trial, rejecting a plea by the couple that the trial in the case could not start as they had not been supplied all the prosecution documents.
Transferring the case, the magistrate had said she did not have the requisite power under the Criminal Procedure Code to hold the trial of a murder case which can only be conducted by a sessions court.
The CBI, in its submissions earlier, had said that statements of 90 out of the 153 witnesses and 23 photographs on which the agency was relying for prosecution have already been given to Talwars.
The court had also given Talwars the liberty to inspect all the documents.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge had on May 2 denied bail to Nupur in the twin murder case. She is currently in judicial custody in Dasna Jail.
Nupur told reporters outside the Ghaziabad court that she will move an application before the trial judge for permission to write a book in connection with the case. (PTI)

MUMBAI, May 14: Actress Katrina Kaif today said she is still waiting for someone to propose marrriage to her.
“To get married one has to be asked about it. When I am asked I will let you know. I have no idea who am I waiting for,” Katrina told reporters here, on the sidelines of the unveiling of the new logo of ‘Nakshatra’ jewellery brand.
Katrina was in a relation with actor Salman Khan for quite sometime, but they parted ways. Following her break-up with ‘Dabangg’ Khan, Katrina has been linked to Ranbir Kapoor, with whom she has done two films.
On whether Ranbir Kapoor is the man she is waiting for to pop-up the marriage proposal, Katrina simply said, “I thought you would suggest someone…I am disappointed.” (PTI)

NEW DELHI, May 14: This year pilgrims undertaking the annual yatra to Amarnath shrine can procure a short-term ‘yatra card’, a pre-paid SIM which will have a validity of seven days.
The Union Home Ministry has given in-principle approval for having such a facility, the first time since mobile operations started in the country, in view of problems faced by pilgrims who do not have mobile connectivity, official sources said.
At a recent meeting, it was reasoned out that many people undertaking the pilgrimage possessed pre-paid mobile connection, which according to the security regulations enforced in Jammu and Kashmir will not work in the state.
It was agreed that pilgrims arriving at Jammu, Pahalgham in south Kashmir or Baltal in northeast of Kashmir from June 25 can avail the option of pre-paid SIM cards, the sources said.
They said a SIM card given to a pilgrim will be working for seven days after being issued and there will be no provision of recharge after that.
This service will be provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited only and major private telecom players like Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, Aircel and Idea have been asked to provide an inter-connectivity for this purpose, the sources said, adding an agreement would be arrived shortly between BSNL and private operators.
Pilgrims opting for a pre-paid SIM will have to provide their Unique Identification number or attested copies of their residence proof, the sources said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI, May 14: Premier defence research agency DRDO plans to commence flight trials for technology demonstration of Kaveri Engine with the Light Combat Aircraft in about three years time, government told the Lok Sabha today.
In a written reply to the House, Defence Minister A K Antony said that “DRDO has not fixed any time frame to fully develop the Kaveri Aero Engine for the LCA, Tejas…. It is planned to commence flight trials for technology demonstration of Kaveri Engine with LCA Tejas Mk-I in about three years’ time.”
He was asked whether DRDO has fixed any timeframe to fully develop the Kaveri aero engine for the LCA.
“LCA Tejas requires 90 kN thrust class engine to meet its operational requirement, whereas Kaveri engine does not fully meet this requirement. It has been decided to use variants of Kaveri Engine to power Unmanned Air Vehicle and also for marine applications,” Antony said.
Replying to a question on the monetary allocations made to the DRDO in last three years, the Minister tabled a report of the money provided to it under various heads.
Since 2009-10 till 2011-12, government’s budgetary estimate for the DRDO was Rs 28,543.43. The revised estimate for the same period was Rs 28,888.55 crore.
The actual expenditure incurred by the organisation since 2009 till 2011-72 has been Rs 28,485.40 crore.
In reply to a question on delivery of equipment by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said that the “government has taken cognisance of the complaints of IAF regarding delayed delivery of equipment by HAL.”
There have been delays in some projects due to rework of the Jigs supplied by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in respect of Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT), the Minister said.
“Delays were also noticed in establishing the facilities for complex engine components and radar software in respect of SU-30 MKI aircraft and certification of Shakti engine by the OEM in respect of Advance Light Helicopters (ALH),” Raju said.
Changes in Standard of Preparation (SOP) for the LCA and delay in engine development by the OEM in respect of Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) also caused further time lags in these projects, he said. (PTI)

PUNE, May 14: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said after the 1971 war, Pakistan, in a changed strategy, started taking recourse to terror attacks against India and the post-Kargil scenario demands a constant vigil by the country’s intelligence agencies.
“It is imperative that our intelligence agencies are on constant vigil in the post-Kargil scenario. Pakistan’s strategy has been to engineer terror attacks which also targeted the country’s financial capital. India’s growth rate is not going down will with the neighbouring nation,” Chavan said here last night, at a function organised to release Marathi translation of ‘Tinderbox-The Past and Future of Pakistan’, authored by noted journalist M J Akbar.
It is important to promote people-to-people dialogue and strengthen economic ties to create a harmonious relationship with the neighbour, he said adding that Akbar’s book throws light on the historical aspect of the Indo-Pak relationship.
Akbar, who reviewed the Indo-Pak relationship in its historical and current context, said Indian Muslims felt secure in India, while mentioning that “I am a proud Indian Muslim.”
The country’s progress depended on its democratic structure, secularism, gender equality and inclusion of the poor in its growth, the author said.
The Marathi translation of the book is part of a project undertaken by ‘Sarhad’ organisation to promote harmonious relations and better understanding with Pakistan. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, May 14: Ahead of Indo-Pak Home Secretary- level talks later this month, Home Secretary R K Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir this week to have a first-hand assessment of problems being faced by businessmen in cross-LoC trade.
The visit comes close on the heels of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flagging the problems being faced by traders in cross-LoC at an internal security conference chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month.
While Omar had termed cross-border trade as a major confidence building measure between India and Pakistan, he had favoured end of barter practice and suggested opening of normal banking channels.
According to official sources, Singh, whose visit scheduled last month was postponed, will be travelling to Kashmir first on May 16.
He will visit Salamabad in Uri in North Kashmir, see the arrangements and talk to some of the trade unions in a bid to firm up the stand on modalities for establishing banking relations for businessmen.
India has been proposing to Pakistan for opening of banking channels to encourage more trade between the two parts of Kashmir.
On Omar’s plea to the Centre, the Home Secretary will also hold talks with the state authorities for having a telephone link between the two parts of Kashmir for encouraging trade relations which started in 2008, the sources said.
The Home Secretary will on May 17 visit Jammu region where he will get a first-hand account about trading at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch, the sources said.
The Chief Minister, in his speech at the Internal Security Conference last month, had said, “There is a need for restoration of telephonic links between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and putting in place a proper institutional arrangement by replacing the current barter system of trade, which will also address the security concerns.”
Omar had requested the Home Ministry to take up the matter with the ministries concerned so that trade can flourish in real terms.
The matter is likely to be raised at the proposed meeting of the Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan scheduled to be held in Islamabad next month. (AGENCIES)