Muslims express concern over Advani's chariot ride; Scrap anti-women Bill, say Jammu women; Delhi cops pay homage to slain colleague; Holi celebrated; Celebrations in Pakistan; India-Singapore joint naval exercise begins off Cochin coast; 'China offer to help settle Indo-Pak disputes'; 100 Indian journalists get visa for cricket series; Pak cricket lovers angry over non-availability of match tickets; Two more DTC buses to ferry fans to Lahore for cricket series; British Hindus protest at Goddess' role for Tina Turner; News from India; News for Tourists and Travellers; India Travel Times;India News Times; Indian News; Travel News; Travel; Tourism

Coimbatore: The Muslims in Coimbatore on Sunday said they fear Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani's forthcoming nation-wide chariot ride could spark communal tensions in the city. Advani will kick off his "Yatra" from Kanyakumari, the southern-most tip, on March 10 and crisscross the country in a trip that will end in Orissa in the east on April 14. He will hit Coimbatore on March 11. In 1998, 17 separate bombings killed 47 people, injured more than 200 and triggered rioting and arson in the city, where Advani had been scheduled to address an election rally. "Now Coimbatore wants to live in peace and harmony. When (Deputy Prime Minister) Lal Krishna Advani visited Coimbatore last time, there were a series of violent incidents which shook the city. We can never forget that. This is not our community's feeling. I think all people in Coimbatore want to live in peace," Abdul Jaleel, president of a local mosque committee said. Advani's Bharatiya Janata Party had blamed the attacks and subsequent rioting in the textile-producing city on some "foreign hand" and denied it was communal.

Advani shot to fame in the late 1980s when he led a similar nation-wide rath yatra for the construction of a Ram temple in place of a 16th century mosque in Ayodhya. Hindu zealots eventually tore down the Babri mosque in 1992, triggering nationwide religious riots in which some 3,000 people lost their lives. Despite the fierce opposition to the procession, the BJP claims that the procession is purely harmless and aimed only at showcasing the federal government's achievements. Advani's chariot ride comes as campaigning picks momentum for national polls beginning next month. The ruling coalition opted for early polls, more than six months ahead of schedule, to take advantage of a booming economy, peace with Pakistan and gains in recent assembly polls. The Election Commission has announced a four-phase poll on April 20, 26, May 5 and 10.

Jammu: Hundreds of women in Jammu on Sunday protested against a tough residential Bill. The state Assembly on Friday passed the Permanent Resident (Disqualification) Bill, under which women who married men from outside the state would have their residence rescinded. The state High Court has, however, upheld women's right to retain their residence status even if they married outsiders. "We demand that the Bill should be scrapped as it is anti-women," said Upasana, an activist. Former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah said the Bill should have been discussed before being passed. The Bill, passed by the ruling People's Pemocratic Party-Congress alliance, has received a huge flak from across the country. The Congress is a junior partner in the PDP government of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The BJP hit out at the Congress for supporting the legislation.

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Sunday paid homage to their colleague Satish Dalal and his informer Vijay Swami, who were killed by a robber gang earlier this week. The duo were on the verge of cracking the gang operating from the city's shady Mongolpuri area but went missing on Friday. Their decapitated and burnt bodies were recovered on Saturday. Grieving family members were joined by top officers and friends from the police force as the last rites of the brave officers were performed. Police have arrested two people for the murders but family members say they want further investigations. Officials say the goons did not realise that they kidnapped a cop. Fearing severe backlash from the force, they panicked and ended up killing and later burning his body.

New Delhi: Holi, the festival of colours, was celebrated across north India on Sunday. President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee joined the festivities alongwith the children.

The festive spirits also touched the Border Security Force (BSF) in Srinagar. The soldiers danced to tunes of folk songs and played Holi with each other. Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav was in his elements. In his charismatic style, Yadav likened the Bharatiya Janata Party to "Holika", a traditional bonfire burnt during the festival. In Mumbai, superstar Amitabh Bachchan hosted a "Holi" party at his residence. It was attended by leading film actors and actresses.

Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated at the onset of spring. People apply colour on each other, distribute sweets and take out processions, dancing to rythms in a melange of colours.

Lahore: Hindus across Pakistan celebrated Holi festival on Saturday with much fervour and gaiety. According to a report in the Daily Times, they offered special prayers for the prosperity of Pakistan and minority communities living there. The report said that in Lahore the festival was celebrated at Krishna Mandir on Ravi Road where several prominent political and social personalities were present amidst heightened security. However, celebrations were kept simple in respect for Muharram. According to the report, the religious festivity at Krishna Mandir started with Puja Paat followed by the traditional Holi, an extravaganza of colours. The festivities included the lighting of small fires.

The All-Pakistan Balmik Association Secretary Dr Munawar Chand said prayers for Pakistan were being offered in all temples on Holi. He said Holi celebrations were toned down because it was Muharram. The report said that in Sindh the festival was celebrated at Hindu Committee Halls and temples. All Pakistan Minorities Association president Dr Heera Lal said that the festival began Friday evening in Sawami Narian Mandir on MA Jinnah Road. Holi was also celebrated in committee halls and temples in Sanghar, Sukker, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Shikarpur, Badin, Thatta, Mirpur Khas Ghotki, and Naushehro Feroz.

Cochin: An India-Singapore joint naval exercise began off southern Cochin coast on Sunday. Three Royal Singapore naval ships- RSS Vigilance, RSS Brave and RSS Victory- are taking part in the exercise. The Indian Navy will deploy submarine Shalki and three ships, - Brahmaputra, Taragiri and Amba. Maritime patrol aircraft TU-142M and Dornier, helicopters Seaking MK 42B and Chetak and fighter aircraft Kiran of the Indian Navy will also be participating in the exercise. Officials said there would be extensive interactive sections between the two navies during the 12-day long exercise. India and Singapore had signed an agreement in October to boost defence ties. The two sides have also planned naval cooperation to prevent high sea piracy in Andaman sea.

Beijing: China was willing and ready to play its constructive role in making the peace process between India and Pakistan successful, said a report in the News on Sunday. Quoting the country's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the paper said that China highly appreciates the strategic vision of leaders of Pakistan and India for their continuous efforts settling their disputes through peaceful means. Addressing press persons, Zhaoxing lauded the steps taken by Pakistan for improving its relations with India. He said: "If friends from Pakistan and India are pleased to see China play a constructive role in this process. Than we are more than willing and ready to do so."

Islamabad: Pakistan has issued visas to nearly 100 Indian journalists and media persons to cover the upcoming Pakistan-India cricket series in Pakistan, the Daily Times reported Sunday. Quoting a Ministry of Information and Broadcasting spokesman, the report said that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had been advised to issue visas to Indian media persons, and the ministry was acting in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

PCB sources said that its contract with Ten Sports TV channel, which has exclusive telecast rights, prevents any other camera crews from covering the matches, including warm-up sessions. As such, foreign television journalists are not being issued visas to cover the matches. The ministry spokesman said journalists with the Indian TV channel Doordarshan will be given visas if they apply, but they will not have access to the stadium because of the exclusive telecast agreement. A large number of journalists from other countries, including the UK, are arriving to cover the matches, the report said.

Karachi: Cricket lovers went furious and had a scuffle with the police here Saturday when they were told they could not buy tickets for the first one-day international between Pakistan and India to be played March 13. According to a report in the Daily Times, the crowd of about 1000 people turned unruly in Karachi at the National Stadium, when it was told that sale of tickets for the match would not begin until Sunday. "The people were unhappy and angry because they had come since early morning to buy tickets," the paper quoted a policeman as saying. It further said that the crowd pelted stones at passing vehicles and mishandled the stadium staff before the strong police contingent posted at the stadium charged and dispersed them.

"The ticket sale for the first one-day will start from Sunday and electronic tickets have been arranged, so that only genuine ticket holders enter the stadium," said a PCB statement. The Board had increased the prices of the tickets for the match, because of the unusual interest in the series with even tickets for the lower category enclosures now being sold for Rs 1500 each.

Islamabad: The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has decided to ply two more buses on the Delhi-Lahore route in view of the possible hike in passenger traffic owing to upcoming Indo-Pak cricket series in Pakistan, a report in The News said Sunday. According to the report, the DTC also urged the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) to explore the possibility of taking a similar step, a report in The News said Sunday. DTC Chairman-cum-Managing Director AJS Sahney reportedly wrote to the PTDC Chairman about the decision of plying two additional buses. The Pakistani side was exhorted to explore the possibility of plying additional buses if more people wanted to visit to witness cricket matches, said the sources at DTC.

Quoting sources, the paper said that a response from the other side was expected in a couple of days. At present, DTC and PTDC ply bus twice a week and the two countries signed an agreement last month on plying of two additional buses in case of heavy rush of passengers. "So far four buses - two each of DTC and PTDC - are able to meet the demand of passengers. But two buses are ready to be put on the road if the number of people, desiring to travel to Pakistan increases," a senior DTC official said.

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British Hindus protest at Goddess' role for Tina Turner (Go To Top)
by Trevor Barnard

London: Hindu organisations in the UK have mounted a protest against the planned Merchant-Ivory film The Goddess, because they object to the deity Shakti being played by rock star Tina Turner. They say that Turner's sexuality is insulting to Shakti's manifestation of female energy. The chairman of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in UK, Hasmukh Shah, told the Sunday Telegraph: "These people would not dare to portray anything to do with Islam, but Hindus are easy targets for them. Our liberal attitude is taken for granted and our tolerance is exploited. But when pushed, the Hindus will become intolerant. Casting Tina Turner is insenstive and we won't stand for it." London-based Hindu Human Rights has launched a petition on its website to support a letter of protest that it has sent to the producers. Quoting media reports that the film will show the goddess "dancing and singing atop of a tiger", the letter says this would be offensive to millions of worshippers. It adds: "We have no quarrel with Miss Turner as such, as she is talented, but because of her reputation/image as a 'sex icon' in most people's minds, it is improper to cast her as Kali (Shakti)." The letter asks for the project to be abandoned.

Ismael Merchant, who, with American director James Ivory has produced dozens of films, uch as A Room with a View, Howard's End and The Remains of the Day, has defended the casting of Turner, saying: "Shakti is the centre of female energy, and anyone who has seen Tina Turner on stage knows that the energy she radiates is incredible." He says a two-week tour of India last month has prepared Turner for her role as a singing and dancing goddess. He describes the film as "funny, ntelligent and a musical", adding: "It says women are here to rule and men had better accept it". The rock star travelled with Merchant from Varanasi to Cochin, meeting with Indian singers and dancers to prepare for her role. Merchant described it as "a big dose of Indian culture". Turner is reported as saying: "India is special to me, and I hope I can do the role some justice."

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