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Delhi SSIs go on a day's strike protesting relocation

         New Delhi: Hundreds of small-scale industrial units in the Capital took to streets today to protest against their relocation. Angered over Delhi government's decision to relocate nearly 100,000 industrial units to city's outskirts, the industry owners had called on the one-day strike. They demanded that the industries in the 24 non-conforming areas should not be closed until the Supreme Court hears the Delhi government's decision. Harvinder Sehgal, Member of Piragari Manufacturers Association said that unless the authorities fulfill their demands, the industrialists will continue their protest. "A number of times Sheila Dixit Government has been announcing that they will confirm the 24 residential areas but has not done that till now and that has created all the confusion", said sehgal. Deciding to launch a massive protest, other industry associations have also decided to join protest against the government for continuing the closure drive. Ranvir Singh, a small scale industrialist said that the closure would seriously affect the industry owners. "We want that small industries of 20 horse power should be allowed by the government so that we can survive. If it does not do so, we will become hand to mouth," said Singh.

BSF seizes huge quantity of Bangladesh-bound garments (Go To Top)

         Agartala: The Border Security Force has reportedly seized a huge illegal consignment of garments bound for Bangladesh from the Kamalasagar border area of West Tripura district. The consignment worth approximately Rs.20 lakh, was being smuggled across to Bangladesh from Kamalasagar by a lorry, a BSF spokesman said. The lorry was stopped by the 46th battalion of the BSF at the customs check post at Amtali, he added. Three people, including a suspected Bangladeshi national, Kasim Mia, have been arrested. The vehicle has also been impounded.

2 Tripura riflemen killed by militants  (Go To Top)

         Agartala: Two personnel of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) were killed at 8 a.m. this morning by militants affiliated to the banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF). The incident reportedly took place at Gajapara, around 50 km southeast of Agartala. Police sources confirmed that the encounter with the ATTF took place after they had received intelligence about their movements in the Gajapara area over the weekend. The militants, they said managed to escape from the scene of the encounter, as they were stationed at a more advantageous position. A search operation is now being carried out for them with the help of the Border Security Force.

Over 3/4th of American Muslims will vote for Kerry  (Go To Top)

         Washington: If a poll carried out by a Georgetown University Muslim group is to be believed, more than three- fourths of 76 percent of American Muslim voters will support Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. According to the Daily Times, this is a dramatic change from the last presidential election when most American Muslims voted for George W Bush. According to Zogby International, only 31 percent of Muslims voted for Gore, compared with 42 percent for Bush in 2000. "So pronounced is the movement away from Bush that he fails to capture even those Muslim voters calling themselves politically conservative, where Kerry leads them by a two-to-one margin," the report quoted the poll as saying . The new poll also shows most Muslim voters no longer identifying themselves with the Republican Party. It says that while in 2001, 23 percent of Muslims identified themselves as Republicans,40 percent called themselves Democrat and 28 percent Independents, now only 12 percent call themselves Republicans, as compared to 50 percent calling themselves Democrats and 31 percent Independents. The poll also found that 53 percent of American Muslim voters believe their community should vote as a bloc for a particular presidential candidate.

Pakistani sells wife's kidney for Rs.200,000, then divorces her (Go To Top)

         Lahore: Zohra Bibi may have married Muhammad Ashfaq happily in 1996, but today she is not only without her man, but also minus a kidney, all for a sum of Rs.200,000. According to the Daily Times, Ashfaq convinced Zohra to undergo surgery so that the couple could have children, but instead had one of her kidneys removed and sold for Rs.200,000. Having no further use of her, he also divorced her. The police have now registered a case against Ashfaq.

NY sidewalks, the American ideal of liberty  (Go To Top)
by T N S Behl

        New York: The very commonality of its existence is what perhaps bestows upon it the status of singular uniqueness, for whichever avenue or street one turns into, there's no escaping the New York sidewalk. And while it's never actually been `visited' by the tourists who throng the Big Apple, it's by far the single most defining trait of a city where the world happens. The New York sidewalk has got a life of its own, gaining prominence and stature due to the ever increasing and slower moving traffic which has prompted many to walk down to their respective destinations. This human congestion lends a charm to a place which by itself is dry, desolate and mundane. For some, like the guy with one leg-side of his trousers rolled up to his knee and screaming a dire warning into the face of anyone who dares looks at him - "Jesus, don't mess with me Man!" -- it's the place to spend the night. For many, like the Afro-American drummer on the junction of Times Square and Broadway, it's a workplace, where beats to make you hop, skip and jump are belted out with unfailing regularity as soon as the neon lights come up. Or else, just waltz across from sidewalk to sidewalk on your skateboard. Alternatively, you could mark out an area with a chalk, set up your music system and voila, do a jig to the appreciative applause of the impromptu audience. Contrast that with the old homeless fellow whose only companion is the clarinet with not so much as a glance from the passersby.

        Glitz and glamour don't come easy even on the sidewalk! The sidewalk is also the place where you step out of your office for a quick smoke, or just to take a breather, resting in an alcove or in the niche of some humungous concrete monster, which in a rather unusual way lends a charm to the whole ambience. It's also the place for pick-ups, with the sundry hooker giving you a quick appraisal as you walk across, deciding ultimately that you just weren't worth it. Given that the city's skyline cuts off direct sunlight, street side cafes with spillover seating onto the sidewalk become a favourite haunt of the city's inhabitants, lounging with a book and a coffee for company. As Jim McMorris, a city resident, a Man Friday for those in the electronic media who need to send footage across continents points out, "The main idea is to be free, that's the whole American ideal of liberty. So man, you could do whatever you want." Like a lingering kiss to your girlfriend? "Why not?" asks Jim. Of course, all this and more under the watchful eye of the NYPD.

SC notices to BCCI, ESPN on Zee's petition  (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Supreme Court today issued notices to the BCCI, ESPN-Star Sports (ESS) and the Centre while admitting a petition filed by Zee Telefilms Limited challenging the cancellation of award of cricket match telecast rights to it. The three-judge Bench, headed by Justice N Santosh Hegde, referred the matter to a five-judge constitution Bench, noting the important Constitutional provisions and questions raised by Zee TV. The Court said that the Constitution Bench would hear the matter on Tuesday. Zee TV said the Board has acted in a malafide manner to cancel the award of telecast rights to it and alleged that the entire drama before the Bombay High Court was enacted to benefit the foreign sports channel. In its reply, the BCCI said that the High Court litigation would have taken a long time and "therefore in the interest of the game it decided to cancel the contract awarded to Zee". It said now Prasar Bharati will telecast the India-Australia and India-South Africa series domestically and international telecast rights will be given to "somebody else".

India beat Pakistan 4-1, level series  (Go To Top)

        Quetta (Pakistan): An under-strength India sprung a major surprise to upset archrivals Pakistan 4-1 and level the four-match hockey series here on Monday. India, who lost the first Test at Karachi narrowly, bounced back strongly to register the convincing victory which was also their first triumph against Pakistan in eight matches. Riding on a brace by drag-flicker Sandeep Singh (13th and 17th minutes) and a 33rd minute strike by Ignace Tirkey, the visitors took a 3-0 lead by half-time before Tushar Khandekar added to the tally in the 60th minute with an opportunistic goal. Pakistan wasted four penalty corners before scoring from the fifth in the 69th minute through Sohail Abbas for their consolation goal. The series stands tantalisingly poised at 1-1 after today's result.

Prasar Bharati to telecast India-Australia matches: BCCI  (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: In another twist to the row over cricket rights, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today informed the Supreme Court that TV coverage of India's domestic series with Australia and South Africa in the coming months would be produced by it with live feed to Prasar Bharati for domestic viewers and international telecast rights to "somebody else". "We will produce the TV coverage of the matches of the cricket series starting from October six, including the India-South Africa series that follow immediately thereafter," K K Venugopal, counsel for BCCI submitted before the Court during the hearing of a petition filed by Zee TV challenging Board's decision to cancel allotment of telecast rights in its favour. "Prasar Bharati will do the live telecast for the domestic viewers and the international telecast rights will be given to 'somebody else'," he said when the Court asked him to respond to the Zee TV's allegation that the Board had cancelled the contract in a malafide manner "to benefit a particular Sports channel". A Bench comprising Justices N Santosh Hegde, B P Singh and S B Sinha, meanwhile, issued notice to the Centre, BCCI, ESPN-STAR and Price Water Cooper Ltd and posted it for hearing tomorrow before a five-Judge constitution Bench taking note of the important questions of law raised by the petitioner. BCCI had on September 21 cancelled the entire tender process in which Zee had emerged as the highest bidder for telecast of all cricket matches played in India between 2004-08.