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Call for protest against Da Vinci Code

      New Delhi: Christian groups in New Delhi have called for peaceful protests if the authorities do not ban the screening of the controversial film, "The Da Vinci Code" in the country. The call for peaceful protests by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) comes after an Islamic clerics' organisation promised to back Catholic groups in launching protests against the film. Protest against the film in the country have so far been low profile, but several Catholic groups have threatened to stage street demonstrations and even to shut down cinema halls screening it. CBCI officials, however, said that they would not tolerate any kind of violence during their protests. "We are totally opposed to any hint of violent behaviour while placing a protest against this film. In fact, the CBCI has just written a letter to an editor in response to an editorial in a daily newspaper that they totally condemned any move towards placing a so-called bounty on the head of the author. This is unacceptable," Father Donald D'Souza, Deputy Secretary General of the CBCI, told reporters. Powerful Islamic clerics joined Christians in this protest, saying "The Da Vinci Code" is blasphemous as it spreads lies about Jesus Christ.

      Mumbai: Members of the Catholic Secular Forum of Mumbai took out a protest on Tuesday against the controversial movie, "The Da Vinci Code", just three days ahead of its release on Friday.

12 die in Maoist blast in Maharashtra (Go To Top)

     Raipur: At least twelve persons were killed in a Maoist landmine blast in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district bordering Chhattisgarh on early morning today. The incident took place near Khalbera village when the victims were on their way from Sundernagar to Kanker district in Chhattisgarh, police said. The dead were part of a marriage party and included four women. The bride and the groom are safe. Tuesday's killings came three days after 300 armed Maoists attacked a relief camp in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada District, killing four village Special Police Officers (SPOs) and injuring three. With the increase in Maoists activities since June last year, about 50,000 people had shifted in government-run relief camps in Dantewada District and about 6,000 villagers are staying in such camps at Injeram, the sources said.

Nepal Maoists training ULFA, KLO: SSB (Go To Top)
by Suman Sharma

     Siliguri (WB): The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officials have said that the possibility of Indian insurgent groups, especially the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Kamptapura Liberation Organisation (KLO), being trained by Nepal Maoists, could not be ruled out. Addressing the media, Inspector General of SSB, Bihar Frontier headquartered at Ranidanga, Mukesh Sahay said this. "Such possibilities cannot be ruled out because earlier also they were trained in Bhutan and before that somewhere here. ULFA was trained by (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) NSCN in Burma (Myanmar). When the operation was flushed out in Burma and they were thrown out, they started looking for a place where there was less pressure. We don't have any such information but such things cannot be ruled out," said Sahay. The findings of various security forces shows that the KLO and the ULFA were receiving training from the Maoists in eastern Nepal, and that the militants are trying to regroup and reassert their pressure. The SSB which is entrusted with the security of the 200 kilometer stretch of the Indo-Nepal international border falling in the Darjeeling district and Sikkim, is raising a new battalion altogether.

Details of offerings to Dargah sought (Go To Top)

     Ajmer: As the controversy over the offerings made by the Zyreens to the Dargah of Moinuddin Chisty in Ajmer heats up, the Rajasthan High Court has ordered all the parties connected to this to give details of the offerings made to the shrine in the last fifteen years. The Dargah Dewan and the Khadims have been fighting a prolonged legal battle in various courts, including the Supreme Court, over the status of each other as well as over a decree passed in the then Ajmer Marwar State in 1933. As per the decree, Dargah Diwan is considered to take half of the offerings and the other half is to be divided among the 5000 khadims equally. Things went smooth till 1991 and it was only after that, when all 5000 khadims associated with the Dargah challenged the Dargah Diwan for taking away half of the share without participating in any of the religious activities. "Dargah Diwan Sahab is a public servant and according to the Dargah Khwaja Sahab Act, he is a public servant given a remuneration of Rs 200 per month. The governor appoints him and so, how can a person who is being given remuneration claim 50 percent of the offerings. I understand that the rule was laid down during the British rule, but the demand is too much. He does not take part in any religious activities, he does not spend a single penny. So, how can he demand 50 percent of the offerings and the rest be divided among the other 5000 khadims", said Sarwar Chisty, Secretary, Anjuman Committee. Disappointed at not receiving fifty percent of the offerings, the Dargah Diwan approached the court. The court then directed all the parties to give details of the offerings made in the dargah in the last fifteen years. It is estimated that the Dargah receives cash Jewellery and various articles worth Rs 200 to 300 crores every year.

Maritime University to be set up (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Government has decided to set up a national-level Maritime University to promote maritime education and research and bridge the critical gap between the needs of the industry and the academic community. Disclosing this after giving away National Awards for Excellence in Research in the Maritime Sector here today, Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Thiru T. R. Baalu said that fund constraint would not exist for projects involving research in this sector.

Cyclone risk management project soon (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: A National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) will be implemented soon in cyclone-prone coastal States. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Pondicherry, Lakshdweep, and Damn and Diu are the states that have been shortlisted for the project. The main components of the project include upgradation of Cyclone Forecasting, Tracking and Warning System, Cyclone Risk Mitigation Investments and Capacity Building in Multi Hazard Risk Management. Meanwhile, the Indian Metrological Department has established an early warning system for tracking, forecasting and dissemination of cyclone related information to the concerned States/ Union Territories enabling them to take timely preventive measures. Some States have constructed cyclone shelters, road links and strengthened community based early warning system as a measure of preparedness and reducing the impact of cyclones. S. Regupathy, the Minister of State for Home, revealed this information in Parliament.

Caste no bar to becoming a priest: Karunanidhi

     Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said that caste would not be a bar to anyone wanting to take to priesthood. Addressing media, after Cabinet Committee meeting, held for the first time after the Government formation, Karunanidhi said barring castes anyone can become temple priest according to their qualification. "We have started the initial scrutiny process and soon the implementation work will be undertaken," said Karunanidhi. Karunanidhi also said that he would try to restore the 'Kannagi', symbolising Tamil womanhood. The Kannagi statue, which stood at Marina Beach front for about 34 years , with anklet in hand, and demanding justice,was removed in December 2001 when Jayalalithaa came to power.

Sushil Kumar Modi resigns from LS(Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday resigned from the Lok Sabha following the constitutional requirements after being elected to the State Legislative Council. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has accepted Modi's resignation. Modi, the first-time Bihar MLC, took his oath on May 7. He became the Deputy Chief Minister of the Nitish Kumar led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government in Bihar last year. Modi had won the Bhagalpur parliamentary constituency as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in 2004.

Windstorm in Gwalior kills 3 kids (Go To Top)

     Gwalior: Three children were killed and eight people wounded in a house collapse in Gwalior in the early hours of Tuesday following unexpected rains and windstorm. The injured are being treated at the city hospital. All the dead belonged to the same family. "Houses collapsed in the storm. All my three children have died. All our belongings have been damaged," rued Om Prakash Yadav, the father of the dead children. Winds at speed as high as 120 kilometres per hour uprooted almost a dozen trees and electric transformers by the wayside adding to the woes of the citizens. Central India was reeling under a heat wave before the unprecedented windstorm struck. The force of the wind also tore the roofs of some temporary shelters. The Meteorological Department has said the weather ahead would be normal.

Stocks market witnessing correction: Chidambaram (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here today that the steep fall in stock market is a correction triggered by many global and domestic factors. "I will put it as a correction provoked by reasons that are quite understandable. All metal prices are down, and there is some impact of cement prices. And the increase in US Fed rates. All markets are doing the same," Chidambaram told reporters. Yesterday, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 30-share sensitive index witnessed its third highest fall ever with the index shedding nearly 463 points or 3.77 per cent to close below the 12,000-mark at 11,822.20. It was the biggest single day fall after May 17, 2004.

I am looking forward to Caribbean
tour: Tendulkar   (Go To Top)

     Chennai: Asserting that the doctor and the physio were quite happy with his progress after the shoulder surgery, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar said on Tuesday that he wanted to be in the West Indies and was looking forward to play there. Tendulkar, who came here yesterday to begin the first phase of his rehabilitation process at the MRF Pace Foundation till May 21 under the supervision of former team physio Andrew Leipus, said: "That is the reason I am in Chennai, training at the MRF. I always wanted to be there (West Indies). I am looking forward to the tour. You have to wait and see". Admitting that the injury he suffered was complicated, the Mumbai batsman said that doctors and the team support staff were happy with his response at the rehabilitation programme. The four-match Test series Between Indian and West Indies will begin on June 2 at Antigua. Meanwhile, BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said that Tendulkar will be going to London on May 24 to consult his doctor Dr Andrew Wallace before proceeding to the West Indies, if he passes the fitness test in Mumbai. "Whether he passes the fitness test or not, he is scheduled to leave for London on May 24 to consult his doctor," Shah said.