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Nehru remembered

        New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today paid homage to the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 115th birth anniversary. Along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the PM paid tributes at Pandit Nehru's samadhi at Shanti Van. A host of leaders were also present on the occasion. Nehru's birthday is celebrated as Children's Day across the country. Affectionately remembered as "Chacha Nehru", Jawaharlal was known to be very fond of children. Born in 1889, he joined freedom movement against the British rule at a very early age. A close associate of India's Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, he was imprisoned several times for political activity. Nehru was India's longest prime minister holding office from 1947 to 1964 when he died.

NDA to disscuss BJP's Hindutva (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: The NDA has decided to convene a meeting here tomorrow to discuss the BJP's attempts to revive the Hindutva issue. As per reports, the allies of the BJP led by JD(U) have all decided to seek clarifications from the party on issues ranging from Ayodhya, Article 370 and the Uniform Civil Code. They are also expected to ask the BJP to make it stand clear on these issues in an effort to enable a smooth running of the alliance. It is believed that a recent statement by senior BJP leader LK Advani advocating the party to revive Hindutva as a driving force ha worried many of the NDA constituents that the BJP was planning its own course.

APHC welcomes Natwar's statement (Go To Top)

      Srinagar: The Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Omar Farooq has welcomed External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's statement that New Delhi would consider Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's proposals on Kashmir if tabled formally. "We are very happy that the Indian government has now taken note of the Pakistan government's willingness to discuss the Kashmir issue in a positive way," Farooq was quoted as saying. Hailing the move as "a good beginning", he further said that the peace talks on Kashmir would receive a further high if the Hurriyat leaders were allowed to visit Pakistan before the third round of talks. "We want to take into confidence the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and those who have taken up the gun. That is why we want to go to Pakistan and would also like to meet Shaukat Aziz in Delhi. With Pakistan, we feel we can discuss some of the options that we believe will be helpful in discussing Kashmir. We want to work on the Indian front as well as the Pakistani front," he added. He further stated that the Hurriyat was looking forward to put its own "suggestions to both India and Pakistan, to help take the peace process forward."

Patna doctors' strike enters second day (Go To Top)

       Patna: Health services in Bihar remained crippled as the indefinite strike by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) entered its second day today. The IMA is protesting against the killing of eminent surgeon NK Agarwal who was allegedly gunned down by extortionists at a private nursing home in Patna on Saturday after he refused to pay them the ransom money. Doctors took out a protest march shouting slogans and demanding the arrest of the culprits. Vijay Shanker Singh, Bihar IMA president, said the doctors will stay away from work as long as their three demands are not fulfilled. "The medicare department of entire Bihar will stop work from now. First we demand the release of the kidnapped doctor. Secondly, we want the police to catch the murderer of the Dr Agarwal. And thirdly we want the police to take action against the extortion by the hooligans. We have decided to go for an indefinate strike," he said.

        Meanwhile, patients were unattended in the hospitals while there was a long queue for the patients at the emergency ward. "Doctors are not here. The child is very sick. We are facing problems. No medicines are available," said Mohammad Shahabuddin, a man whose child was admitted in the hospital. Another patient Birender Kumar said: "No doctors have come since evening. In the morning there are lot of problems. There are nurses coming but there are no doctors." There has been a sharp rise in incidents of kidnapping and crimes in one of the country's most lawless and unruly states. Traders and businessmen are soft targets who end up paying a huge ransom to secure their release. Businessmen allege that a nexus between kidnappers, local politicians and the state police. But police say not many cases are reported and the relatives prefer to give ransom to kidnappers thus encouraging criminals.

Srinagar celebrates Eid (Go To Top)

       Srinagar: With the 40 days of religious fasting, Ramadan, coming to an end, Muslims all over the valley were busy preparing for Eid-Ul-Fitr. The markets wre buzzing with activity as people cutting across all religion and faith are indulging in shopping. "Very good arrangements have been made for shopping. Yesterday all of us celebrated Diwali. Today irrespective of being a Hindu, Christian or Sikh everyone is indulging in Eid shopping. Here in Srinagar wecelebrate all festivals together", said Reyaz Ahmed, a resident. "I have come here for Eid shopping. I wish that this Eid ushers in peace and harmony in the valley," said Majid, another resident. The people, who have for so many years borne the brunt of militancy, say that their only wish this Eid would be for peace and harmony to return to the valley. Also they are waiting with bated breath the forthcoming visit by the Prime Minister, hoping it would usher in new employment opportunities. "We pray that may there be peace and harmony in the valley. And we extend a very warm welcome to the Prime Minister, who will be visiting the valley shortly. We hope that he brings in a good package for us. Here these is lot of unemployment and we hope that he brings in employment opportunity for us to make this Eid really a memorable one," said Shabir Hussain, resident.

Five persons die in Delhi slums fire (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: At least five people were killed and several injured when a fire blazed through a crowded slum area in New Delhi early this morning. The dead included three women and two children. The fire broke out at about 3 a.m. in the Sarai Kale Khan and gutted at least 50 hutments. Six fire tenders were called in to bring the fire under control. RA Meena, Sub Divisional Magistrate of the area, said that the probable reason of the fire-break out could be an electrical short circuit. "The fire started at around 2.55 a.m. There are five casualties including three children and two women. The fire cause is most likely to be short circuit," Meena said. Rashiq Ahmed, an eyewitness said that he had saved money for his daughter's marriage but the fire gutted it all. "I had kept 21,900 rupees for the marriage of my daughter all of which was burnt. There were around 8-10 new blankets and other clothes. Almost I suffered a loss of 35,000 rupees in this fire," Ahmed said.

PM's assurance on AFSPA raises hope in Manipur (Go To Top)

       Imphal: Manipur described as a jewel in India's north-east by the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is finally returning to normalcy after having received the brunt of extremist violence for several years. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance to political parties, that the Centre would consider reviewing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which in effect gives sweeping powers to the armed forces battling insurgency for the last four decades in the state, has come as a sort of breather to the Manipuris, many of whom feel that such an act should be repealed or changed.

        After two months of intense agitation, Imphal, the state's capital is finally getting back to normalcy. The streets are bustling with activity, the most visible change being that business establishments across the city are doing brisk business, and women and children are openly seen on the roads. The Prime Minister's assurance has not come as a breather to the ordinary people of the state, even the political leaders from different parties across the state have welcomed the move. "The Prime Minister is very sympathetic, understanding to the ground reality of the sufferings of the Manipuri people, the problems people have faced as result of the practice of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. He has assured a very different act shall replace the old act. That means a new law, which is friendly to the people, which understands the situation of the rights of the people will come into place," said Lokendera Arambum , a senior leader of the Apunba Lup. "The primary objective is to get the right to live, after getting that, which is also our constitutional right, peace will automatically come to the state, followed by economic development," said Latino Mug Ambomitey, the spokesperson of the Apunba Lup.

        Earlier, a ten-member delegation of Apunba Lup spearheading 32 organisations had recently travelled to New Delhi to hold talks with Prime Minsiter Dr. Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. The visiting delegation went back satisfied as the Prime Minister lent them a patient ear and assured them of solving the deadlock, raising hopes of peace returning to the state. "The situation in Manipur is improving each day. It is very normal now. The agitation was in connection to a particular incident, and incited the people to go on an agitation. Since then, the agitation has drastically come down. It is nearly normal in the state now," said AK Parashar the Director General of Police, Manipur.