Delhi all geared up for Olympic torch
relay
New
Delhi: The Athens Olympics are still a couple of months
away, but the Olympic fever has firmly gripped the national
Capital, which is bracing to host the torch relay as it
passes the city on Thursday. Torch-bearers, shortlisted
by the Indian Olympic Association as well as private sponsors,
held an interactive session here on Monday. Leading personalities
from the sports world and budding artistes would be among
the 105 torch-bearers. Dashing cricketers have also been
included for their star value, though cricket is not an
Olympic event. Ace shooters Anjali Bhagwat, Jaspal Rana,
weight lifter Karnam Malleswari, cricketers Rahul Dravid,
Irfan Pathan, Virender Sehwag, former India cricket captain
Kapil Dev, and legendary athlete Milkha Singh are amongst
the prominent torch bearers. Over 61 Indian sportspersons
have qualified for the 2004 Olympics so far, with more selections
expected in the next few weeks. "It's wonderful to see that
there are so many participants who have gone for Olympics
from India. The fact that they have reached this point itself
is a big thing. I think they are winners already, I pray
that they make India proud. Cricket is a great sport and
apart from it there are other great sports also and every
player should get the love and affection of the people,"
said Ayan Ali Bangash, a Sarod player, who would also carry
the Olympic torch. For many others like Rahul, a physically
challenged, the torch relay provides an opportunity of a
lifetime, to rub shoulders with people who had excelled
in their chosen fields.
Carrying the message "Pass The Flame, Unite The World",
the Olympic torch began its journey from Olympia, Greece.
The flame, lit from the sun's rays in Olympia on March 25,
resumed journey last week from Sydney, Australia, the host
of the previous 2000 Games, and will be taken across the
remaining three continents, represented by the Olympic rings,
before reaching the host country Greece, where Olympics
originated.
India, will host the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and has
also bid for the 2016 Olympics. The Olympic torch relay
will start from Delhi's landmark, Qutab Minar and pass a
33.2 km long route covering most of the city's historical
places such as the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Lutyen's
Delhi before culminating at the National Stadium. After
travelling various other countries, the flame would return
to Greece on July 9 for a final home tour before lighting
the cauldron at the Olympic stadium on August 13.
UPA Govt to protect secular values: Kalam
(Go
To Top)
New
Delhi: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government
on Monday pledged to preserve, protect and promote secular
values and enforce the law without fear or favour to deal
with all obscurantist and fundamentalist elements that seek
to disturb social amity and peace. President A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam said in his fourth presidential address before a joint
session of Parliament. "It's a matter of serious concern
that forces of communalism have been able to vitiate the
atmosphere in the country leading to outbreak of riots,
the most gruesome face of which was witnessed recently in
Gujarat. My government is determined to combat such forces,"
said Kalam. Kalam said the first general elections of this
millennium reflected the firm conviction of the people in
the democratic process of change. "The outcome of these
elections is indicative of people's yearning for inclusiveness--economic,
social and cultural-- and their rejection of the forces
of divisiveness and intolerance." "The verdict is for establishing
the Rule of Law and repairing our secular fabric. This government
is committed to providing the right ambience for fulfilling
the aspirations implicit in the people's mandate," he said.
Mumbai sessions court to hear Best Bakery
retrial (Go
To Top)
Mumbai:
A Mumbai sessions court will begin hearing a retrial
of the infamous Best Bakery arson and murder case today
in keeping with a Supreme Court's order, transferring the
case for hearing to Maharashtra. Judge Abhay Thipsay will
conduct the trial although the government is yet to appoint
the special public prosecutor to conduct the case. The judge
is expected to issue production warrants today for the accused.
Two of them are in custody and one is on bail, while others
are reportedly absconding. The retrial was ordered after
a Vadodara court acquitted 21 persons who were accused of
killing 14 persons.
Petition against Dharmendra dismissed
(Go
To Top)
Indore:
A local court on Monday dismissed the revision petition
against Bollywood actor and BJP MP from Bikaner, Dharmendra
on the issue of allegedly hiding information about his marriage
with actress Hema Malini and changing religion while filing
nominations for the Lok Sabha polls. Additional District
Judge of fast-track court SK Jain dismissed the petition
on the ground that "prima facie no case can be made out
on the basis of the allegations. And, if at all, the allegations
exist, then it should have been filed under the People's
Representative Act in front of the concerned district Electoral
Officer. Even the issue of their marriage by changing religion
too is now 24-year-old and therefore, cannot be challenged
under the law, the judge ruled.
Four held for Satyendra Dubey's murder
(Go
To Top)
Gaya:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested
four men for the murder of highway engineer Satyendra Dubey.
The four arrested men were produced before a designated
court in Patna, which remanded them to CBI custody. The
four are being brought to the CBI headquarters in Delhi
for a detailed interrogation. Dubey, 31, was an IIT Kanpur
civil engineering graduate working with the National Highways
Authority of India. While working at Koderma, Jharkhand,
Dubey noticed rampant corruption in the section where he
had been posted. He wrote to the Prime Minister about the
irregularities. But on November 27, 2003, he was murdered
in Gaya.
Balakrishna remanded to 14 days judicial
custody (Go
To Top)
Hyderabad:
Telugu film actor and late NT Rama Rao's son Balakrishna
was remanded to 14 days judicial custody when he was produced
in the court of a metropolitan majistrate here on Monday.
He was arrested on Sunday for shooting at a film producer
B Suresh and his friend Satyanarayana Chowdhary on Thursday
last. His arrest was delayed as he got himself admitted
to Care Hospital immediately after the incident, complaining
of a hand injury. After hearing the arguments, the judge
asked the police to shift Balakrishna from the Private Care
Hospital to the Government run NIMS Hospital. Balakrishna
will remain in judicial custody till the 21st of this month.
Natwar clarifies, tells Kasuri he was
misquoted (Go
To Top)
Lahore:
India's alleged charge of Pakistan sponsoring terrorism
were dismissed by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri,
when he said that he had received a call from Natwar Singh,
his counterpart in New Delhi, clarifying that he had been
misquoted. Addressing a press conference at the State Guest
House here on Sunday, Kasuri was quoted by The News as saying
that his call for a "rhetoric restraint regime" was aimed
at removing any misunderstanding between Islamabad and New
Delhi. He also confirmed that Singh had expressed his commitment
towards promoting long-term peace and stability in South
Asia. Kasuri said he had decided to reveal the telephonic
conversation to the press because he considered it necessary
to clear the air. "I want improvement in Indo-Pak relations
as much as you do," Kasuri quoted Natwar as saying. Expressing
his satisfaction over the announcement of dates for the
bilateral nuclear CBM talks to be held in New Delhi, the
Pakistan foreign minister said that Islamabad was looking
forward to working with New Delhi for the socio-economic
betterment of the poverty-stricken people in both countries.
Musharraf's betrayal stalled Kashmir
settlement: Sharif (Go
To Top)
Dubai:
Had General Pervez Musharraf not betrayed him in 1999,
disputed issues with India like Kashmir would have been
solved, claimed Pakistan's exiled premier Mohammad Nawaz
Sharif. "If I had stayed on for another year, we would have
solved everything. Vajpayee and I would have resolved Kashmir.
But Musharraf betrayed me. He betrayed Vajpayee as well
as me," Online News quoted Sharif as saying in an interview
with the Indian Express. Lauding the celebration of democracy
in India, he said that Indians should be proud to have a
Muslim President and a Sikh Prime Minister. The smooth way
in which the change of guard had always taken place in New
Delhi was equally praiseworthy. "One quietly leaves without
a fuss, another moving in," he said.
Commenting
on Sonia Gandhi's decision not to accept the post of Prime
Minister, Sharif termed her decision as a masterstroke,
and added that in fact, she had paved the way for one of
her two children - Priyanka or Rahul - to occupy the slot
in the future. He also confirmed that he was in touch with
PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on ways to stage a comeback
to the country. "Benazir and I may find a common agenda
to restore democracy. We talk to each other often," he said.
Asked if he missed the subcontinent, Sharif smiled. He said
he watched old Hindi movies for recreation. "I like the
black and white ones best, the new Bollywood ones are terribly
vulgar," he said. When asked how sure he was about his return
to Pakistan, he said: "Of course, I will, There will be
an uprising against Musharraf. His popularity is at an all-time
low." Without naming Musharraf, Sharif said it was beyond
his comprehension as to why Washington was supporting a
military dictator.
