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India cites security concerns, opts out of SAARC summit

     New Delhi: The Government today announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would not attend the 13th SAARC summit scheduled for this weekend in Dhaka as the security situation in the Bangladeshi capital was uncertain. In a statement issued here this afternoon, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said that India's decision not to attend the summit had been formally communicated to the Government of Bangladesh, and that a request had been made to Dhaka to work out fresh dates through consultations among the seven member states. "This decision has been taken against the background of recent developments in our neighbourhood, which have caused us grave concern. The security situation in Dhaka has deteriorated in recent days following the fatal attack on the former Finance Minister of Bangladesh, Mr.SAMS Kibria," Saran told a crowded press conference at the MEA in South Block here. Saran was also referring to India's concern over the evolving situation in neighbouring Nepal, a day after King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev sacked the government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and imposed a state of emergency in the Himalayan kingdom. The King also announced that he would retain absolute power for the next three years, inviting sharp and negative reactions not only from India, but also the international community.

      Most nations called for the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, warning that not doing so, could create socio-economic and political chaos. "The Government of India wishes to reiterate its continuing and consistent commitment to the SAARC process, and to increased regional cooperation among member states. It is only in an environment free from political turmoil and violence that a summit would yield the desired outcome," Saran, however, added. Earlier, prior to the government's announcement, the Prime Minister met his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition L K Advani today to discuss the situation arising in Nepal. The senior BJP leaders went to Prime Minister's South Block office for the discussion following an invitation from Singh. The discussions took place soon after the Union Cabinet meeting. Advani later told reporters that the situation in Nepal following the dismissal of Deuba Government by the Nepalese King Gyanendra and the upcoming SAARC summit in Dhaka were discussed. "It was a general discussion and we exchanged notes", he said without elaborating.

Suresh 'Hijara's' challenge in Gaya  (Go To Top)
by Arunoday Prakash

     Gaya: Following Shabnam Mausi, Asha and Kali Hijra in the political arena, Suresh Hijra has thrown her hat in the assembly elections. She is the Samajwadi Party (Rashtriya) candidate from the Gaya assembly constituency. Suresh is among a few of the candidates who face challenge from both male and female candidates. Being a eunuch is no shortcoming for Suresh, in fact she cites it as a positive point. "I don't have anybody, I have grown up between the people of Gaya. They are everything I own. Being a eunuch I don't have a home, a family or anything like that. I will devote myself completely to the people of the area", says Suresh. Posters carrying photographs of Suresh and former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar are pasted all over the contituency. Suresh's main thrust area during campaigning is development. "I will work towards the development of the constituency. Development should be the main motto of the leaders, but it is sorry that they are hardly doing anything for it", Suresh added. Suresh also has a long number of followers behind her, chanting slogans in her name. People of the city also look fed up with the usual candidates and are speaking about a change. "Suresh is from in between us. We know that she would work for us", said a resident. Similar views were expressed by some of the shop-keepers in the busy area of Delhi in Gaya. Delha is considered as a stronghold of Suresh. Suresh is one of those candidates who try to change the usual system of the society, who try to set new precedence. "Although, being a eunuch is a drawback, at times it also becomes a positive point. Suresh has no one other than us, we are her family", said a shopkeeper near Delha market. Eunuchs have become Mayor, corporators etc, thus, this is not a new attempt. Some of the people in the area are taking Suresh's challenge easily, but his may porve dearly to them.

Abducted DPS student Kislay released (Go To Top)

     Patna: In a significant development before Thursday's first phase polling in Bihar, Kislay Komal, the abducted student of Delhi Public School in Patna, was released by his kidnappers on Wednesday. A senior superintendent of police said that Kislay returned to his Patel Nagar residence in the city in good health, while two of his abductors had been arrested. He was found in Sipara village near Patna. Bihar was virtually brought to a complete standstill by opposition party politicians and the student community following the January 19 kidnapping of Kislay near his residence. Students had launched a relay fast, gheraoed the Governor's residence, stopped bringing tiffins to schools and petitioned the President and the Governor seeking his immediate release.

      Meanwhile, police in Bhagalpur have also confirmed the recovery of a fourth kidnapped student a short while ago. The police said that Deepak Kumar, a student of the DAV school in Bhagalpur was in their custody and would be returned to his home soon. With all four students found, the possibility of these kidnappings being stage-managed for political capital ahead of the polls is gaining ground. While the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav, may claim that law and order in Bihar is not as bad as it is being made out to be by the opposition, the opposition campaign to unseat the RJD after almost 15 years on this issue may just have come unstuck, though under development might still prove to be a saving grace for it.