India says Kashmir will figure in talks with Pakistan (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: India on Thursday said the issue of Kashmir will figure in the composite dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad. "In our programme, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is specifically mentioned. So is in the joint statement. Besides when other CBMs (confidant building measures), peace and security are discussed, Jammu and Kashmir also will be figured," Shashank told reporters at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on his return from Islamabad.

          Shashank had gone to Islamabad for the foreign secretary- level talks between nuclear arch rivals India and Pakistan. The two sides reached broad agreement on the agenda and structure for their first peace talks since almost coming to war in 2002. Shashank, who termed the three-day "talks on talks" as "constructive", said Pakistan was ready to go forward on almost all issues. "They are ready to go forward and consolidate the entire issues. Besides, they want to ease out the restrictions on visa for the cricket matches between India and Pakistan. Whoever wants to go to see the matches, will be given visas," Shashank said.

          Indian cricket team is visiting Pakistan in the first week of March for a tour which includes three test matches and five one- dayers. Officials from different ministries will meet in June to tackle a range of issues, including economic links, people-to-people contacts and disputes over water sharing, maritime boundaries and the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield. Foreign ministers would then meet in August to review overall progress.

          Talks on Siachen, the Wullar barrage/Tulbul navigation project, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial co-operation and the promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields, would be held at levels already agreed upon, in June-July talks. Technical level meetings between the director-general of Pakistan rangers and the inspector-general of the Border Security Force would be held in March-April. There would be expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs in the latter half of May. This would be followed by parleys on drug trafficking and smuggling in June.

'Dream girl' Hema Malini joins BJP (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: As an upbeat mood sweeps the BJP, celebrities continue to join its fold ahead of early elections expected April-May. Bollywood actress-turned-lawmaker Hema Malini on Thursday formally joined the BJP, adding to the list of star campaigners for the party. Hema Malini, known as Bollywood's "dream girl," is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. She had campaigned extensively for the BJP during the Assembly elections in December. "I feel very close to this party, I have really liked their ideology and I am a great admirer of Atalji. So I have always loved to be in this party. So I am here today," Malini said.

          The BJP also received a shot in the arm as a Muslim minority leader embraced the Hindu nationalists at the function. "This party is working for the welfare of the country. That's why I am joining this party," said Arif Mohammed Khan, a former Central minister who had deserted the Congress party earlier. Khan is among a handful of Muslim leaders to align with the BJP.

          Earlier this week, former Central minister and a member of the Gandhi clan, Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun, cricketer Navjot Sidhu, film actor Jeetendra and some television actors also joined the BJP. The BJP-led government, buoyed by the recent victories in the Assembly elections in December and a bumper harvest resulting from abundant monsoon rains last year, gambled with an early election, eight months ahead of schedule. The Election Commission is expected to announce the poll dates this month. BJP's chances have been further boosted by prospects of peace with Pakistan and an Opposition in disarray. Opinion polls show Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is far more popular than Sonia Gandhi and that the BJP-led alliance of almost 20 parties is expected to retain power in the 545-seat parliament.

Congress questions star campaigner's entry into BJP (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Congress party on Thursday took strong objection to a presidential nominee to the Rajya Sabha joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), terming it as unconstitutional. Bollywood actress-turned law-maker Hema Malini on Thursday formally joined the BJP, adding to the list of star campaigners joining it ahead of early national elections, expected in April- May. Malini, known as Bollywood's "dream girl," had also campaigned extensively for the BJP during the Assembly elections in December. The President usually nominates people from fields, other than politics, to give the Rajya Sabha a true representative flavour. The Congress alleged that a presidential nominee joining the ruling party was "unethical."

Shiv Sainiks demand cancellation of Pakistan cricket tour (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Shiv Sena on Thursday sought cancellation of India's cricket tour of Pakistan next month. Activists of the party took to the streets in New Delhi shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. The government had last week given the go ahead to the tour which at one stage looked uncertain following security concerns expressed by some senior players. "Whenever our team has toured Pakistan, it has been ill-treated by the Pakistani players, the umpires and the masses. And today, when Pakistan has sold nuclear technologies to terrorists, what guarantee do we have that our players would be safe there?," asked Jai Bhagwan Goel, head of the Delhi wing of Shiv Sena, expressing concern over the safety of the players. In a memorandum to President APJ Abdul Kalam, the activists have sought his intervention. This would be the first time when India would play a Test series in Pakistan in over 14 years. The tour, which begins in March, comprises three tests and five one-day matches.

Illegal arms factory near Delhi busted (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The police busted a massive illegal arms racket here on Thursday seizing dozens of country-made pistols and weapons. Police raided the clandestine factory, operating from the basement of a residence in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of New Delhi, in the wee hours following an intelligence input. Deepneder Pathak, the city's deputy commissioner of police, said this was the biggest seizure of country-made weapons in the Capital in over 20 years. "I understand this catch, must be one of the biggest in the last one or two decades for country-made pistols. More than 18-20 pieces have been seized. Apart from that more than 200-300 pieces of various parts have also been seized which can be utilised in the making of country-made pistols," Pathak told a news conference. Mohammad Shabir, a 40-year old man, has been arrested in this regard. "On intelligence tip-off we arrested one person from whom the team recovered some arms. When the intelligence came to know about the address of the factory, a big team was sent and there they saw that there was a full basement for the arms factory," Pathak said.

Amritsar bomb blast leaves 15 injured (Go To Top)

          Amritsar: At least 15 persons were injured in a powerful bomb blast near the offices of the Senior Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner and District Court here on Thursday. The glass windowpanes of nearby offices and buildings were damaged and roofs of temporary sheds in the District Courts complex collapsed under the impact of the explosion. The area has been cordoned off and senior officials rushed to the site. The nature of the explosive used in the blast is yet to be identified, officials at the spot said.

Sonia's assurance to UP villagers (Go To Top)

          Varanasi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday called upon the people to vote for the party so that an efficient and transparent government could assume power at the Centre. On the third leg of her UP campaign, she addressed a public meeting at Arei village. Sonia ridiculed the 'feel-good' slogan of BJP and emphasised that it was Congress, which had always fought for the cause of people. She patiently heard the problems of villagers and even assured that if Congress was voted to power, most of their grievances would be redressed. Later Sonia was expected to visit the Varanasi, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra districts.

Cricket in Karachi as safe as Indian consulate: Official (Go To Top)

          Karachi: There is no law and order problem in Karachi and it's a safe city for organising a Test or a one-dayer between India and Pakistan during the upcoming cricket series, said Sirajul Islam Bukhari, the Honorary Secretary of Karachi City Cricket Association. This has further been confirmed by the decision of the Indian Government to open their Consulate in Karachi for issuing Indian visas, the News quoted Bukhari as saying here Wednesday. He maintained that the Indian security delegation, which visited Pakistan last week, had also cleared Karachi from the security point of view. Siraj said he would appeal to PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan to ensure that one Test and at least one ODI is played in Karachi. "He (Khan) is well aware that Karachi is the major city where there is craze for cricket," he added. The Karachi cricket official further stated that it would be unwise to create doubts about holding Test matches in Karachi, or Peshawar, before any decision on the proposed itinerary is taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

PCB agrees to accommodate 75 Indian scribes for cricket series (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to increase the number of visiting Indian journalists from 60 to 75 at each venue for the upcoming cricket series between India and Pakistan, according to the News. "They have shown more flexibility and have now agreed to accommodate at least 75 Indian journalists at each venue," the paper quoted Amrit Mathur, the communications director of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as having said during his recent visit to Pakistan. Applications from Indian journalists have already started pouring in at the BCCI secretariat in New Delhi. The BCCI will soon screen the applications and forward them to the PCB, which has indicated February 21 as the last day for receiving the filled forms at New Delhi. Over 200 applications are likely to be received before the deadline lapses. Replying to a question on whether Multan has the capacity to hold Indian, Pakistani and foreign journalists, Mathur said: "Yes, I have seen the press box and it can accommodate them." According to the report, during his week-long stay in Pakistan, Mathur had a look at the media facilities, the players' dressing rooms and other related aspects of concern to the cricketers and the media.