Musharraff's
statement disappoints India
New
Delhi: Comments made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
following his talks with the talks External Affairs Minister
K Natwar Singh in Islamabad, have not generated much enthusiasm
in the administration here. "We are disappointed at the
tone and substance of some of the comments made in the press
release issued by the Pakistan Foreign office yesterday.
The press release does not reflect the comprehensiveness
of the discussions", External Affairs Ministry spokesman
Navtej Sarna was quoted as saying. The statement further
revealed that Musharraf had during his talk with the External
Affairs Minister said that there ought to be reasonable
timeframe within which all bilateral issues including Kashmir
should be solved.
India
says Iraqi kidnappers want ransom (Go
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New
Delhi: External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh today
said he had been informed that Iraqi kidnappers were demanding
a ransom for the release of three Indian captives, but added
that he was still hopeful about seeking their release at
the earliest. Talking to reporters here after meeting the
family of one of the captives, Singh said: "I want to assure
that the matter will be sorted out easily. Those who have
done this do not have any political affiliation and have
committed this for ransom." A group calling itself the "Black
Banners" seized the three Indians and four other drivers
- three Kenyans and an Egyptian - earlier this week and
threatened to start beheading them within 72 hours unless
the Kuwait transport company employing them pulled out of
Iraq. That deadline expires today. Kuwait's largest transportation
firm, KGL, assured that it was willing to do anything to
save the lives of the seven men. The militants are also
demanding that India, Kenya and Egypt withdraw their citizens
from Iraq. None of the countries are part of the U.S.-led
military coalition in Iraq, but some of their nationals'
work as drivers and contractors.
The
father of one of the hostages said he had been assured about
the early release of his son and others. "We request the
President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister to ensure
that my son returns safely. I also want to make a request
to the media that they help in bringing my son back safe
and sound. I am satisfied with the minister's assurance...the
atmosphere back home is very bad," a distressed Ram Murthy,
the father of Antaryami, told reporters. Meanwhile, people
in Kolkata held an all-religion prayer for safe release
of the three Indian hostages.
President
accepts Soren's resignation (Go
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New
Delhi: President APJ Abdul Kalam today accepted the
resignation of Union Coal and Mines Minister Sibu Soren
with immediate effect on the recommendation of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, bringing a temporary end to the stalling
of political deliberations. A Rashtrapati Bhawan communique
said that on the advice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
the President has accepted Soren's resignation with immediate
effect.
Earlier, Shibu Soren, who faces possible arrest for his
alleged role in a massacre 29 years ago, resigned from the
UPA Cabinet. "This was a conspiracy hatched by the Bharatiya
Janata Party and people of the state know very well about
it. Coal and Mines Minister Shibu Soren decided to put in
his papers and will then prove himself innocent," Sunil
Kumar Mahato, a JMM leader told reporters. Opposition lawmakers
have been accusing Soren of "absconding" but his aides say
Soren is being framed for political reasons and is seeking
bail from a court. Since an arrest warrant was issued against
him, Soren, has not appeared in Parliament or at his ministry.
Shiv
Sena moves Supreme Court over strike fine (Go
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Mumbai:
The Shiv Sena has reportedly moved the Supreme Court
against a fine that was imposed on it for staging a shutdown
last year. A fine of Rs. two million was imposed on Shiv
Sena and its ally, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by the
Bombay High Court on Friday for calling a shutdown last
year after a series of bomb blasts, Party chief Bal Thackeray
said he planned to move the apex court against the High
Court landmark order. "I am not bothered if it will benefit
us or not. We will go. Whatever is wrong is wrong and we
will fight against this and we will have to go to the Supreme
Court," he told reporters here. A High Court bench on Friday
said the fine would go into a fund and will be used to improve
public amenities. "How can you go against strike, we did
it for welfare of people how many people have supported
this verdict, this is sad. But we cannot do anything against
it? This is wrong," he said. The Maharashtra opposition
BJP-Shiv Sena combine had called a shutdown on July 30 last
year to protest the bomb blast in Ghatkopar area in which
four people had died and 48 were injured.
Nawal
Kishore Sharma takes over as Gujarat Governor (Go
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Gandhinagar:
Veteran Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister
Nawal Kishore Sharma took his oath as Governor of Gujarat
at the Town Hall here today. Gujarat Chief Justice Bhavni
Singh administered the oath of office. The new Governor
was welcomed with bouquets of flowers by Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker Mangaldas
Patel, Chief Secretary P K Laheri and other dignitaries.
Later, he reviewed a guard of honor.
Five
youths attempt self-immolation in Manipur (Go
To Top)
Imphal:
Five youths immolated themselves near the gates of Manipur
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh's office here on Saturday a
few hours after curfew was relaxed. Police sprang into action
and doused the flames but not before the three received
serious burn injuries, official sources said. They have
been admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences
Hospital in critical condition, the sources said. The area
was reportedly tense after the incident.
