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BJP critisises opposition parties for their stand on Gujarat where more than 900 people have died in religious violence
"Efforts are on to remove Vajpayee government. Is it correct? Sonia Gandhi tells her Chief Ministers to go to Gujarat and organise sit in demonstrations. What is the reason? Why? To remove Modi?," Krishnamurthy said. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has launched a country-wide agitation to mount pressure for the removal of Modi, who is accused of turning a blind eye to attacks over Muslims in his state. Krishnamurthy also said attempts by the opposition parties to replace a state chief minister throufh parliamentry debate would upset the balance in India's polity."Whatever the Communists and Congress are doing in Parliament in the name of Gujarat -- that will destry fine balance of constitution of India. People should be alert against this," Karishnamurthy said. The debate on Gujarat is set to resume in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow (May 6).(ANI, MAY 5, 2002) As Security advisor to the Gujarat chief minister, K P S Gill visits relief camps in Ahmedabad, violence continues in the city.
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"What needs to be done immediately, I will be talking to the police officers. I have got a fair idea of what they feel, are the drawbacks in the functioning today. But you cannot change the system overnight. You can't have...I find a gradual change is always better. So all that change will only be brought about through discussions," said Gill. He added,"Ultimately the elected government is responsible to the people of the country, to the people of the state and it is the elected government which has to act. I as an advisor will project a point of view and it is upon them to accept or reject." Meanwhile, shattering a weeklong calm, rioters went on rampage in Shahpur, Madhavpura and Dani Limda areas of Ahmedabad. At least two people are reported to have died in renewed violence.Rioters torched nearly twelve scrap metal shops in Parikshitlalnagar area of the city. Apart from this around twelve residential quarters were set on fire by the frenzied mob.According to fire brigade sources, the scrap-yard fire turned into a massive blaze by the time the fire-fighters reached. (ANI, MAY 5, 2002)
All India Terrorist Front observes "Inquilaab Diwas", honours Azad Hind Fauz soldiers and family members of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh.
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Rao in his speech said the actor had immortalised himself through his role. "Sometimes it so happens that an actor gets to play such a role in a film that he is immortalized through it. By playing that particular character he leaves an indeliable impression for all times to come. Because the actor gets indentified with the actual character he is playing in that particular film." Well known play-back singer Sonu Nigam who sang two songs in the film "Legend of Bhagat Singh" enthralled the audience with the rendering of a number from the film.The family members of Sukhdev and Rajguru- two martyers in Indian freedom movement- were also honoured on the occasion. India to hold its first joint army war games with US
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to top New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): In another sign of growing ties, for the first time India would hold its joint army war games with the United States, an Indian defence spokesman said on Sunday. Exercise Balance Iroquois is schdelued to take place in Agra for about a week. It would involve Indian army para-commandos, US special forces from its Asia-Pacific command and aircraft from both countries. "The aim of this exercise is training in airborne assault where para-jumping is involved. It's a follow up of our new relationship with the US involving defence supplies, training and other areas", the spokesman stated. "This was a first for the two armies, although there has been some contact between Indian and US navies in the past", he added. However, details on the number of soldiers participating in the mid-May exercise, about 650-km from the Pakistan border, were not immidiately available. The US suspended military links with India and Pakistan after they carried out nuclear tests in 1998, but ties have resumed with both nations, especially after they supported US forces fighting in Afghanistan. (ANI)
Fire in Shahdara timber market
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to top New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): A large number of timber and vegetable shops were gutted when a huge fire engulfed the wholesale market in Shahdara Sunday morning. Though timber worth crores of rupees was destroyed, there was reportedly no loss of life. According fire department officials, as many as 45 fire tenders were pressed into service to control the fire. Eyewitnesses said the blaze began inside the timber market about 2.50 a.m. and soon spread to the adjoining vegetable market. A local shopkeeper said a "short circuit" triggered the fire. Shyam Sunder Khera, another shopkeeper, said, "We tried to douse the fire by pouring water. We also saved people who were trapped in the flames". Nobody was injured in the fire, which escalated because of the timber shops nearby, he further said. Another shopkeeper said he lost wood logs worth crores of rupees. Accusing the fire department, he said, "losses could have been controlled if the fire tenders had reached the spot in time". Delhi Chief Fire Officer R.C. Sharma, however, said that over 45 tenders were pressed into service and the blaze was controlled by 4.40 a.m., roughly two hours after it started. "It was difficult to put out the fire as it had engulfed huge stacks of dried logs by the time we reached here", he added. Sharma said that it would be too early to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire. The actual cause could be ascertained only after proper investigation, he added. This is the second fire in Delhi in the past few days. Last Friday there was a major fire in a chemical factory in the Okhla industrial area. (ANI)
Musharraf to face possibility of civil war: Report Go to top Islamabad, May 5 (ANI): Though President Pervez Musharraf has secured about 98 percent of votes in the referendum, according to a Pakistani newspaper report, the President is faced with the possibility of a civil war, especially in the tribal areas along the Afghan border. Terming the referendum results as "fake and exaggerated", the report in Balochistan Post said that the war in tribal areas would not remain confined to the mountains and would spread to even cities like Islamabad and Lahore, besides Quetta and Peshawar where there is already a great tribal influence. "It is not all. Our miseries will multiply a thousand times when our armed forces would face a split", the report stated, adding that the Army and Frontier Corps were made up of many tribes whose villages are going to become a battlefield. "The Indian military build-up on Pakistan's eastern borders could also not be ignored. It would be unwise to presume that Army and paramilitary personnel belonging to Mehsud, Yousoufzai, Afridi or Wazir tribes would continue to obey the orders of the bankrupt Chief of Army Staff and would fight against their own brothers", it added. The newspaper said disobedience by these tribal personnel "would mean a civil war that is easier for the General to start, but it is going to be very difficult for the nation to recover from". It also charged Musharraf of "implementing another agenda - the agenda to break up Pakistan if Pakistan cannot dissociate itself from Islam". "The earlier the General goes home is better for him and the nation", the report concluded, adding that Pakistan opposition parties have already demanded Musharraf's resignation for being elected by a "sham vote". (ANI)
Pervez promises to hand over power to elected PM Go to top Islamabad, May 5 (ANI): President Pervez Musharraf has promised to hand over "the power to govern" to an elected prime minister by October. Musharraf said an elected prime minister would have the freedom to govern the country on a day-to-day basis. But, he said, he was seriously considering the idea of a National Security Council (NSC), which would have the power to dismiss a government and provide what he calls "checks and balances". "Power is the power to run a government," he told international journalists on Saturday. "The prime minister and the cabinet will have that power. The NSC... has the power to check misdoings. "I am just going to relax and play tennis and golf," he said, "but I will not allow him (the prime minister) to run it badly." Musharraf said the general elections in October will be held on party basis. As president and chief of army staff, Musharraf said he will hold two key posts in the proposed NSC, but he denied it would be an unhealthy concentration of power. Musharraf also promised to investigate the alleged irregularities, but said he was sure they were not widespread. "I would submit it was an exception, if at all it did happen," he said, referring to the stuffing of ballot boxes. "In some places, maybe some idiot may have done it, but let's not take it as a rule." He said the referendum result will swing "fence-sitters" onto his side, and encourage people to back "pro- reform" candidates in October. "What is my exit strategy? The moment that I see the people do not want me I will just quit," he said. "After five years I want to see (democracy) taking roots. My role will be to oversee and make sure that it takes roots, but I'm not interested in politics "We will follow all constitutional measures to validate anything that we are doing," he said. "I don't know if it's a two-thirds majority or a simple majority, but we will cross that bridge when we reach it."(ANI)
Amer Fort getting new look
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to top Jaipur, May 5 (ANI): For the first time after Independence, Amer Fort is being renovated. Perhaps, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has realised that foreign tourists can no longer be attracted by simply whitewashing and painting the exteriors of the fort. According to an estimate, about Rs 45 lakh would be spent on repairing the fort. ASI sources said repairing had been regularly done in the upper portions of the fort like walls, roofs and ceilings. But the lower parts perished for no repairs were made since ages. As dust and garbage collected in the corners and along the walls, water seeped into the fort and damaged the lower portions of its walls. Due to permanent moisture, plasters came out of the walls and bricks showed up. As a result, the soldiers quarters, ladies hall, lower parts of Shilamata Mandir, Bhoolbhulian, and Madhosingh hall have been lying in a dilapidated condition. In order to stop leakage of water from the ceiling, the openings are being filled up with paste of stone-flooring. Efforts are also being made to clean the internal drainage system so as to ensure free flow of sewage water within the fort premises. Besides the renovation work, the state government contemplates hiring a music group that would enthrall the tourists with the traditional "Dhol Nagade" (drums). ASI Director Akshay Jagdhari said a private agency or a social organisation would soon be entrusted with the job of arranging a good music band. (ANI) Hoteliers bring Las Vegas to Mumbai Go to top Mumbai, May 5 (ANI): An increasing number of hotels across the country are inviting foreign musicians in an attempt to attract customers. In other words, hotels are no longer the dream destination for good food only. People today look for complete entertainment.....and accepting the change in the palate of their customers, the hotels too are coming up with new and innovative ideas, like the one above. In fact Mumbai's Le Royal Meridien hotel, after having introduced Picchi, the Brazilian belly dancer recently, is now trying to recreate the magic of "Las Vegas".... America's most fun-filled city, with song, dance, sensuality and gambling being the essence of living life king size. In an attempt to bring the extravaganza of the night life of Las Vegas to `Aamchi Mumbai,' a three-member female band has been called... not from Las Vegas but from London. In fact, Frances Styles, Frances Park and Claire Carter have already created a storm of sorts in the hearts and minds of people before whom they have made their lively performances. Their's has been a well-executed and nicely choreographed rendition of a carefully selected mix of music. Although a little reserved at first, the people seem to have slowly opened up to the idea of scantily-clad women singing chart topping numbers. Men and women alike took to the centrestage and started dancing to the tunes of the group. This is Styles, Park and Carter's first visit to India and they seem to be enjoying every minute of it. In fact, they received such a tremendous response that they now plan to come back to India for more performances. But until then, they will continue to perform wherever they get a chance to. (ANI)
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