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Militants attack Jammu Central Jail, five killed (Go To Top)

          Jammu: Militants today attacked the central jail in Jammu after opening fire on the front security picket. According to initial reports, the attackers were trying to enter the jail premises but were foiled by the security men deployed at the gate. In the encounter at the venue, five people, including one militant, were killed. When reports last came in, a security operation was on to get rid of the remaining militants in the area.

Centre plans to auction Dawood's properties (Go To Top)

          Mumbai: Keen to break the deadlock on properties belonging to mafia head Dawood Ibrahim worth thousands of crores, the Central Government has reportedly announced plans to auction them off. A special task force under the aegis of Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal has been set up to auction or seize Dawood's properties. The head of Mumbai's crime branch, Satyapal Singh, who is also in the team, says they will try a different approach. "We have prepared a list of at least 80 properties which belong to Dawood in and around Mumbai, these have been physically verified. A final list will be prepared and then we will move ahead," said Singh, the Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime.

          Already, police have arrested officials in the municipality for helping Dawood get clearance for properties like the Sara Sahara shopping complex in central Mumbai, a powerful symbol of the links between the don and real estate. While similar attempts made by the state government have failed in the past, it is hoped that joint efforts by the Centre and state governments will pay off.

Sonia kicks off Himachal roadshow (Go To Top)

          Shimla: Congress president Sonia Gandhi arrived in Shimla on Wednesday for a 'Jan Sampark Abhiyan' in Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur parliamentary constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. Dismissing LK Advani's Bharat Udai campaign, She told newspersons that the BJP has launched this campaign to counter the response the Congress is getting during its Jan Sampark Abhiyan. Welcoming the Election Commission's statement that parties should restrain themselves while making personal attacks, she said let us see how much in good sense the other parties take it or follow it.

          "I do trust the people, the government worker and everybody, but this programme is to reach out to everybody in every single state whether we are in power or not. The Election Commission has said that there won't be any personal attacks, now will it be heard by certain individuals I doubt. There is always one person who is the target of everyone," said Sonia Gandhi, Congress president. "People wanted her to come and meet her. And we are hoping that our campaign for the Lok Sabha will be now more focused and we will win all the 4 lok sabha seats,"said Virbhadra Singh,Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

          In response to Sonia's visit to Shimla, the BJP has called the 'Congress Roadshow' , a circus show on the roads. "Congress party used to be known as party of good deeds. But now it is reduced to a circus doing a road show.This shows how badly they are doing. Also, they are misusing the government machinery. Since this road show was organised, the entire government staff went to Mandi and Kangra in government vehicles using all the government machinery taken from public relations department. Lakhs of rupees are also being spent on putting huge gates and posters of Sonia Gandhi. We have also written to the Election Commission about this. Our representative will also meet the chief election officer of Himachal. They are using the tax payers' money," said Suresh Bharadwaj, President, Himachal BJP. Though the Congress is in power in Himachal Pradesh, it did not get a single seat in the Lok Sabha election from the state. Currently, of the four, three are with BJP and one with HVC.

Poonam Dhillon shuns Congress, joins BJP (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Filmstar of yesteryears Poonam Dhillon, who till recently used to actively campaign for the Congress, joined the BJP here on Wednesday. She said, "I was immature and acted in haste when I joined the Congress ... today I have grown up and can make out the difference between good and bad." When asked if she would contest election, she replied, "nothing has been decided yet ... I will do whatever the BJP's senior leadership will decide for me." Poonam was inducted into the party amid much fanfare, even as party general secretaries Pramod Mahajan and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were present on the occasion. Parrying a question over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin issue, she said, "like me she is also a woman and I don't want to make personal comments." But she said, "there are women in BJP also, and we also make an appeal to the general public to vote for us."

All geared up for riot of colours (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: With three days left for Holi or the festival of colours, markets in northern India are crowded with people buying traditional colours, sweets and gifts. One of the most widely celebrated festivals in the north, Holi signals the end of winter and the onset of spring. This year it falls on Sunday. On this day, people apply "Gulal" or coloured powder on each other, distribute sweets and take out processions accompanied by drums and traditional Holi songs. In Dehradun, the festivites have begun much in advance as Uttaranchal chief minister N.D Tiwari hosted a party for the city's residents. Dozens of children joined Tiwari in the celebrations smearing "gulal" and spraying coloured water from "pichkaris", the traditional spray-pumps, on each other. Apart from riotous singing, dancing and the consumption of drinks and eatables made out of bhang (a local drug), Holi also holds a mythological importance - that of the triumph of good over evil.

Court asks Govt to explain Rs 650 million ad spend (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: A court on Wednesday asked the Central government to give details of its Rs. 650 million advertising blitz, showcasing the ruling alliance's achievements. The controversial campaign named "India Shining" has kicked up a row with Opposition leaders accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which heads the coalition, of misusing public money for promoting its own leaders. Though the advertisements have now been banned by the Election Commission, a petitioner has moved the court demanding the government be made accountable.

          Reacting to the court directive, BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan termed the hype as exaggerated and clarified that funds for the campaign were sanctioned in last year's budget itself. "Are government advertisments ever done through private pockets? The government advertisments are always from government money. And as far as India Shining is concerned...in the last budget under the India development initiative, Rs. 100 cr was marked for it...out of that Rs. 65 cr have been used to advertise India Shining. Across the world, governments use money to advertise. What is the hype about, I don't understand," Mahajan said.

Trinamool party to contest 29 seats (Go To Top)

          Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress party in West Bengal on Wednesday announced its candidates for the April-May national elections. The Trinamool Congress, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition, said it would contest in 29 of the 42 parliamentary constituencies, leaving the rest for the BJP. "Thirteen seats, whatever last time they have got...this time also we are giving 13 seats to the BJP and in 29 seats the Trinamool Congress will be contesting. Out of 13 seats, 12 we have already given and for one seat the discussion is going on and we will decide it later on, only one seat," Mamta Banerjee, Trinamool Congress chief told a news conference here.

          Banerjee dropped two-time lawmaker and senior leader Sudip Bandyopadhyya from her first list of 26 candidates. Banerjee, who stayed out of the Central government for almost two years, was sour with the BJP leadership when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee considered Bandyopadhyya's name for a Cabinet berth, which ultimately did not materialise. Banerjee said her party would do its best to brighten the prospects of the NDA candidates in the state.

Straw begins 3-day visit to Pakistan (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw began a three-day visit to Pakistan today. The visit assumes significance in the backdrop of an admission by Pakistan's chief nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan that he sold Pakistani nuclear technology to a host of countries, including Iran, Libya and North Korea. During his stay, Straw is likely to hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri. In addition to reviewing bilateral relations, he would hold discussions with Pakistani leaders on a wide range of regional as well as global issues. These include the resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue, reconstruction in Afghanistan, counter- terrorism and nuclear non-proliferation. The trade factor is also likely to figure in the discussions. With Britain being home to 750,000 overseas Pakistanis, it is also the fourth largest trading partner and the largest foreign investor in Pakistan.

Moharram death toll is 182 (Go To Top)

          Baghdad: The death toll of Shia Muslims from Tuesday's carefully planned and executed attacks in the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Baghdad has crossed 182. As Shiite pilgrims marked the solemn holy day of Ashura on Tuesday, a suicide bomber backed by mortar fire and remotely detonated bombs placed on roads to the sacred city of Karbala struck, killing 112 people and wounding at least 235. Further north in Baghdad, interim health minister Khdeir Abbas said at least 70 were killed and 321 wounded in a multiple suicide attack on a Shiite mosque surrounded by thousands of faithful.