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PM's China trip from June 22 to 27 New Delhi, June 12: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will visit China from June 22 to June 27, the first trip to the neighbouring nation by an Indian premier in a decade. The visit is expected to cap new efforts to foster friendship between the world's two most populous nations which fought a brief border war in 1962 and still have outstanding border disagreements. "Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will pay an official visit to the People's Republic of China from the 22nd to the 27th of June 2003. During his visit the Prime Minister will have separate meeting with his Excellency President Hu Jintao", Indian foreign office spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi. Vajpayee met the President this month on the sidelines of the 300th anniversary celebrations of St Petersburg, Russia's former Tsarist capital. The visit is also expected to bolster the meagre trade ties between the the two nations. "A high-level delegation of Indian business and industry will visit China in conjunction with the Prime Minister's visit. Prime Minister will address a joint India-China business meeting in Beijing," Sarna said. Trade and economic cooperation between India and China grew to 4.3 billion dollars during the period from January to November 2002 from 264.8 million dollars in 1991. And although Indian imports of Chinese goods by far outstrip its exports to China, business leaders believe China's fast-growing economy will offer an increasingly attractive export market as it opens up to international trade. Imports from China totalled 938 million dollars , or 3.6 percent of total imports, in 2001/02 forecast to rise to 1.22 billion dollars or 4.28 per cent in 2003 - nearly double India's exports. Advani describes Pak as the fountainhead of world terrorism (Go To Top) Washington, June 12: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani has declared Pakistan as the epicentre of global terrorism and emphasised the importance of a meaningful Indo-US relationship to battle against jihadi elements which constitute a security threat to both the nations. "The epicentre of international terrorism lies in India's immediate neighbourhood. It gives me no joy in pointing fingers, but the involvement of Pakistan can no longer be ignored," Advani said at a seminar 'Indo-US Relations in a Strategic Perspective' organised by the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles. Terrorism is fuelled by religious extremism and New Delhi and Washington must associate with each other to tackle this menace which disturbs the tranqullity around the world as well, according to him. The sponsors and instigators of such activities, the deputy premier pointed out, originated in the same pool that also provides support to the terrorists' activities against American interests. Speaking about India's experience, Advani said terrorists had attacked Parliament, temples, aircraft, trains and buses, and no one, including women and children, had been spared. Over 60,000 innocent Indians have died in the hands of militants, he informed. His message to Pakistan was: "Heed the voices of sanity and give up the futile path of confrontation with India." Nine militants gunned down in Kashmir, infiltration bid foiled (Go To Top) Srinagar, June 12: In a nightlong gunbattle, nine Pakistani militants, one of them a 'commander' of Lashker-e-Toiba, were killed as troops foiled an infiltration attempt in north Kashmir. Four were shot dead while trying to sneak in from across the border at Ram Wali Gali in Kalaroos sector of Kupwara Wednesday night, according to sources. Another four, belonging to Al Badr outfit, met with the same fate in the hands of Rashtriya Rifles personnel at Safalpora in Langate area of Kupwara early on Thursday. Two AK assault rifles, eight magazines, a rocket launcher with two rockets, a pistol, two wireless sets, five grenades and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militants at the spot of the first encounter. LeT 'commander' Abdul Wahid Atak was killed during search operations at Nathnoosa. Meanwhile, a man and his son (of the Gujjar community) were murdered on Thursday by unidentified militants in a village in Baramulla district. Their throats were slit. Pandits also seek a part in talks on Kashmir (Go To Top) Jammu, June 12: Hindus of Kashmir on Thursday said they should also be included in any future talks between India and Pakistan if the Kashmiri Muslims are also a party to the dialogue. Representatives of Panun Kashmir, campaigning for a separate homeland for Pandits as the minority Hindus are known in the Valley, placed their demand before the government's interlocutor NN Vohra when they met him. Vohra, on his second visit to the state, has been holding talks with political and social groups to find measures to end the now 14-year-old rebellion in the state that has killed more than 38,000 people. "We have told him of our demand, for years we have been asking for a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits. Apart from this, we have talked about several other issues. The main thing is that if talks between Pakistan and India take place, in which, whether due to any external or internal pressures Kashmiri Muslims are made a party, then Kashmiri Hindus will also stake claim to be a party...a party to the negotiation even at the international level," Panun Kashmir chairman Ashwini Charngoo told reporters here. Thousands of Hindus fled the Valley after Muslim separatists launched an armed struggle in 1989. According to the National Human Rights Commission, about 400,000 Pandits have been forced to leave because of the rebellion. Vohra also met with leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar United Front. Traditionally, Gujjars belong to the nomadic communities. After settlement, most have taken to agriculture but a majority of them continue to live in extreme penury. They are now demanding for rerservation in government jobs. "In today's meeting, we stressed that reservation be given to us. Till this is done, the state cannot progress. We stressed this as well as other problems which have been presented to him in a memorandum," said Anwar Chowdhray, a senior leader of the Gujjar front. Living in virtual isolation, the Gujjars are also a soft target for militants operating in the state. Musharraf must quit: ARD leader (Go To Top) Islamabad, June 12: Pervez Musharraf wil be pardoned, and not penalised, according to the Constitution, if he steps down from his dual post, says Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, head of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy. "ARD does not accept Gen Musharraf either as a President or as an Army chief," he told onlinenews.com in an interview. "There is no example in the world of a person getting elected as President through a referendum and since his tenure as Army chief has expired, he has been retired," the Nawabzada affirmed. In his opinion, Musharraf had given himself an extension after his retirement from Army chief's post in an unconstitutional manner and added that he would have to vacate both the posts. Spelling out ARD's stand, the Nawabzada said even if Musharraf takes off his uniform, he would not be accepted as a President. Moreover, he has to wait for two years after retirement to become the President. Answering a question regarding Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's offer to make Gen Musharraf a constitutional President, he stated that "Musharraf says his holding of two offices is imperative but he would never take off his uniform as he has not given a date in this regard. Musharraf fears that if he sheds his uniform, he would face the same end as Gen Ayub Khan did." Answering another query, the ARD leader said that "we are also against giving authority to the President to dismiss the Prime Minister and the Cabinet as this right should be given to Parliament only. Maruti shares oversubscribed (Go To Top) New Delhi, June 12: The mega public issue of Maruti Udyog for sale of 72 million shares was oversubscribed within three hours of its opening on Thursday. The initial public offer was for divestment of government's 25 per cent equity. As of now the company will have to keep at least 25 per cent of shares for retail investors and a minimum of 15 per cent for high net worth investors. Cong team greeted with black flags in Punjab village (Go To Top) Talhan (Punjab), June 12: A Congress delegation led by Manmohan Singh and Amrinder Singh, chief minister of Punjab, were greeted with black flags by angry residents of Talhan village. The delegation had arrived there to take stock of the situation which witnessed bitter clashes over a place of worship. Addressing the press later in the day, Manmohan Singh, senior leader of the Congress party, said the need of the hour was to have total control of the situation, thereby easing tensions and bringing in peace. "Tension should be eased and peace and tranquillity should return. This is our main mission", said Manmohan Singh. Earlier, angry residents shouted slogans like " Down with Congress Party", and "Down with the present government", with the arrival of the delegation in the village. Development, good governance main planks of BJP poll manifesto (Go To Top) New Delhi, June 12: Bharatiya Janata Party said on Thursday that its manifesto for 2004 general elections would focus on development and good governance. BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters after a meeting of the top party functionaries that the failure of Congress governments in several states would also be highlighted. "For the forthcoming assembly elections in five states, development and good governance will be the manifesto of our party. The party has also decided to take failure and corruption by the Congress in its ruled states to the common people," said Naqvi. With five states, including key Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, set to vote this year and national polls due in 2004, analysts see a stiff competition between BJP and main opposition Congress Party ahead. The BJP's 20-odd coalition allies have put a brake on its divisive religious agenda but winning a majority in the 545-member Parliament could give it a freer hand. Sobered by recent defeat in elections in Himachal Pradesh, BJP plans to firm up strategies for the assembly elections scheduled later in the year. Naqvi said the party would bring a chargesheet against Congress within three months. The BJP, which shot to prominence in the 1980s on the back of a Hindu revivalist programme, was accused of using religious riots in Gujarat last year to rally the Hindu majority against minority Muslims for a win the state elections. Defeat in by-elections a setback
for Mamata (Go
To Top) Kolkata, June 12: The defeat of the Trinamul-BJP combine in two by-elections held on Sunday, coupled with the eruption of internal squabbles in the Trinamul Congress-led Calcutta Municipal Corporation, has put a question mark on Mamata Banerjee's political future and her party's prospects in next year's Lok Sabha polls. The outcome of the Nabadwip Lok Sabh by-poll may also seriously impair the Trinamul a chairperson's relationship with the BJP and stand in the way of her expected re-induction to the NDA Cabinet before Parliament's monsoon session. The ruling Marxists, who spared no efforts to utilise the state administration and resorted to unfair means at selected booths in extensive areas, however, are elated over the by-election results which have effectively reduced the TC's strength in Lok Sabha. Ms Banerjee is particularly hurt by the defeat of Abir Biswas, her party's nominee at Nabadwip and son of late MP Ananda Mohan Biswas, by a huge margin of over 98,000 votes. She had camped at Nabadwip for over a week, undertaken an intensive campaign and tried to exploit "the sympathy wave" in her party candidate's favour. The removal of Nadia's district magistrate on the eve of the by-election for violation of poll conduct had also added to her expectations for an outright victory. However, the presence of a Congress candidate and the CPI(M)'s success in putting its election machinery into effective use ultimately belied her hope for retaining the Lok Sabha seat. A close scrutiny of the Nabadwip result shows that the CPI(M) cadre openly rigged the election at least in three Assembly segments - Hanskhali, Chakdah and Haringhata. For example, at booth numbers 152, 276 and 277 of the Chakdah Assembly constituency the Trinamul Congress candidate polled 0, 0 and 6 votes compared to the CPI(M)'s 863, 888 and 523. At booth number 158 of the Haringhata Assembly segment, the CPI(M) nominee polled 183 votes against the Trinamul Congress' 21. Similarly, at Hanskhali's booth numbers 35 and 147, the CPI(M) candidate received 520 and 939 votes against the Trinamul's 53 and 28, respectively. The Vidyasagar Assembly constituency also witnessed scenes of organised rigging by local CPI(M) workers at a large number of booths. An interesting feature of the Nabadwip by-election result is that the opposition party candidates, belonging to Trinamul Congress and the Congress, together polled over 38000 more votes than their CPI(M) rival, Alokesh Das. Obviously the Marxists took advantage of a divided opposition to wrest the seat from Trinamul. The Congress, which did pretty well in the recently held rural polls, however, forfeited its deposit at Nabadwip as the BJP nominee did in the Vidyasagar Assembly by-election. The Congress' poor show at Nabadwip, however, has re-established the fact that TC continues to be the main opposition party in the state. While Trinamul has succeeded in retaining its lead over the Congress in the Ranaghat East, Hanskhali and Nabadwip Assembly constituencies, the latter was lagging far behind the CPI(M) in Ranaghat West, Coopers Camp and Shantipur segments which happen to be its strongholds. The defeat of Mahua Mondal, daughter of Ajit Panja and Congress nominee at Vidyasagar, has put the rebel Trinamul Congress MP in a dilemma on the question of returning to the parent party. Panja, who personally campaigned for his daughter along with PCC president Pranab Mukherjee, has been taken aback by the huge victory margin of CPI(M) candidate Anadi Sahu. Mondal, who fought the Assembly polls in 2001 on a Trinamul Congress ticket, had lost to late Left Front chief whip Lakshmi De by a narrow margin of about 3500 votes. According to informed sources, Panja has kept his options open, although he is apparently inclined to join forces with the Congress before the Lok Sabha polls. Ms Banerjee, on her part, is planning to re-draw her party's political strategy to face the CPI(M)'s challenge in the coming general elections. Aware of the Marxists' bid to come closer to the Congress to ensure the BJP's defeat, she has ruled out the possibility of joining hands with the state Congress with a view to curbing the CPI(M)'s political clout in Bengal. A lot will, of course, depend on her equation with the BJP's apex leaders, particularly Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who is believed to be keen to take her back in his team. The Trinamul Congress chairperson, however, intends to re-join the Cabinet on her own terms and may not be agreeable to any formula which seeks to erode her authority in the party.
Harry leaves Eton; Police save one million pounds (Go To Top) London, June 12: Now that Prince Harry is leaving Eton, police chiefs will save one million pounds by closing the purpose-built school police station and disbanding a team providing round-the-clock security for the prince. According to a report in the Sun, two detectives will move out of Manor House, where Harry slept in a 10 ft by 8ft room. And 18 officers will finish working three shifts a day manning screens that control dozens of CCTV cameras. They also patrolled the streets of the Berkshire town. After taking his final A-level in geography, Harry, 18, will leave for good. The police protection squad has been in place since Harry's brother William, 20, started at Eton in 1995. He left three years ago. The annual budget has risen to one million from 600,000 pounds in the first year. The cops will not be released back on the beat. Fourteen will move six miles up the road to replace officers guarding Prince Andrew at Sunninghill Park. Four other cops will move to Chequers to guard Tony Blair, says the report. A senior police source said: "In the nicest possible way it is good riddance to the royals. They tied up enormous resources and cost a fortune." JLo on a dumping streak (Go To Top) London, June 12: Just two weeks after dumping her publicist, J.Lo has sacked her long-term manager Benny Medina as well as her agent. Medina, who also manages Puff Daddy, has been responsible for guiding J.Lo's pop career. But it seems the singer is tired of being labelled a diva and to top it all - her movie reviews have been dire. According to a report in the Sun, she was forced to re-shoot her scenes with Ben Affleck in Gigli because test audiences felt no sexual chemistry. The diva said: "Benny is someone who has helped me in countless ways and I thank him profusely." `Raunchy' Britney to go busty at Tussauds (Go To Top) London, June 12: Move over Pamela Anderson. Pop princess Britney Spears is all set to transform into a raunchy pole dancer with a well endowed, throbbing bust line. With her back arched and chest puffed out suggestively, this will be Britney's sexiest pose ever as millions of male hearts go racing, reported , the Sun. The transformation to a heaving, busty babe is being executed by experts at Madame Tussaud's waxworks museum in London, with the guys hell bent on making the crooners 52,000 pound wax look-alike ape her breathing. "She will be our raunchiest model ever. For the first time we are installing balloons in her chest so her boobs heave in and out and she is hanging upside-down in the pose and when the waxwork is unveiled it will give our male visitors one hell of a treat," an insider has promised. The 21-year-old crooner will be placed next to a blushing J.Lo and a Brad Pitt with a squeezable bum, with the Oops! I Did It Once Again star's pose being modelled from her Live in Las Vegas video, as she crooned Slave 4 U. Apparently, the wax work will be unveiled later this year, with a couple of real pole dancers being roped in to offer tips to the public. Her mom hates her guy, confesses Charlotte (Go To Top) London, June 12: Charlotte Church admitted that her mom is not too excited about her boyfriend, rap DJ Steven Johnson, but said that there was nothing she could do about it. Confirming there was a chasm between mother Maria and rap DJ Steven Johnson, the 17-year-old Welsh star announced that her mom hates her guy, reported the Sun. The revelation took place as daughter took mother Maria to the London premiere of her new film, while Steven stayed home in Cardiff and sulked at being left out. "Mom doesn't like Steven at all, but there's nothing I can do about it. I'm sure there are thousands of mums who don't like their daughters boyfriends," the singer said. Harping on her great equation with her mom and her boyfriend, the star said that she couldn't be much bothered as she was having the best of both worlds. Steven, who in Charlotte's words is her "bit of rough", irked Maria no end by trying to sell the pair's sex secrets to newspapers for 100,000 pounds. -ANI |