New Delhi, October 03: It is a minor political war in cyber space. An angry Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Congress party “bought” a website mimicking the BJP’s own which re-directed all hits to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) site. The BJP has served a legal notice, an official said on Sunday.
“Yes, we have served a legal notice,” a BJP official said.
Lakhisarai, October 03: A suspected Maoist, who was allegedly involved in an encounter with police here on August 29 in which seven policemen were killed has been arrested, police said today. Director General of Police, Neelmani today said the arrested Maoist, identified as Bechan Das, admitted his involvement in the encounter near Ramtalnagar village during interrogation.
The ultras had also abducted four policemen following the August 29 gunbattle. Later they released three personnel while killing one.
New Delhi, October 03: RJD chief Lalu Prasad is the favourite punching bag in the campaigning for Bihar assembly elections.
The man who changed the rules of the game in the state for 15 long years but failed in the last assembly elections is at the centre of attacks and counterattacks.
In the run-up to the polls, his detractors are reminding people against the return of the “jungle raj”.
New Delhi, October 03: Beggars in the national capital have done the vanishing act! Almost all roads and temples complexes are now looking beggar-free and hawkers selling balloons, magazines, pens and cheap accessories at traffic signals have also quietly disappeared overnight without explanation.
While human rights activists and NGOs have blamed the Delhi government for forcing hundreds of beggars to leave the city or remain invisible till the Commonwealth Games are over, state officials have denied such allegations.
Shimla, October 03: As the priest begins to chant the sacred mantras for the daily religious ritual, a group of Muslim musicians quietly joins in, playing the traditional drums, shehnai and trumpets.
This scene from a Himachal Pradesh temple, and common in many of the state’s prominent temples, is an effortless syncretic way of existence that has become part of the social fabric for generations.
Islamabad, October 03: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who launched his own party in London Friday to contest the 2013 elections in Pakistan, says former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is “totally brainless” and had failed to deliver on the two occasions he was elected.
Musharraf, who seized power from Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999, said at a rally in Britain Saturday, “I worked with him for an entire year and noticed that Nawaz Sharif is totally brainless.”
Colombo, October 03: Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, has been included in Sri Lanka’s squad to tour Australia later this month in an indication he may play in the 2011 World Cup on the sub-continent.
The off-spinner retired from Test cricket in July after capturing his 800th wicket, but didn’t reveal his World Cup plans and was not part of a limited-overs tri-series involving India and New Zealand in August.
New Delhi, October 03: Suspended Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi today hit out at the Cricket Board and said he had anticipated the problem brewing up in the Kochi franchise.
BCCI President Shashank Manohar has show-caused the Kerala-based second-most costliest IPL franchise to incorporate their joint venture in 10 days or face action from the Board. Reacting to the latest twist from BCCI, Modi in his twitter account posted: “Kochi franchise — just as I predicted.
London, October 03: The three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal at the Lord’s Test in August could escape criminal charges unless the Metropolitan Police prove to the Crown Prosecution Service there was a specific ‘victim’ in legal terms, reports The Daily Mail, London.
Pakistan’s captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were all questioned by police and suspended by the ICC after a middle-man, Mazhar Majeed, provided details of three specific no-balls in return for £150,000.
Lucknow, October 03: Even as Hindu and Muslim groups mull over the implications of Ayodhya verdict and the next course of action, the craftsmen who had worked here till 2007 carving stone slabs for the planned Ram temple are sensing an employment opportunity.
“Soon after the pronouncement of the verdict, there had been phone calls from the craftsmen hailing from Gujarat, Rajasthan and parts of Uttar Pradesh who had been working here between 1990 and 2007 asking us when they have to come back to finish the work,” VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma says.
Lucknow, October 03: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh’s remarks that the Muslim community felt cheated by the Ayodhya title suit verdict has evoked sharp reaction from the community leaders, who dubbed it as “unwise” to make politically motivated statements at this time.
Hyderabad, October 03: Andhra Pradesh Government yesterday began the process of withdrawing cases of non-serious nature registered against pro and anti-Telangana agitators since November last year.
State Home Minister P Sabita Reddy told media here today that 1,171 cases were registered in all against 5,374 persons, including students, in connection with the agitations for and against the division of the state.
New Delhi, October 03: The Election Commission has convened an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss various electoral issues, including criminalisation of politics, Bihar elections, use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the role money power plays during polls.
The poll watchdog has invited the leaders of all political parties, including state and regional leaders. ”The meeting is tomorrow. The poll panel will take up various electoral issues, including criminalisation of politics, the use of money power during elections and also use of EVMs,’’ an official
said.
Jerusalem, October 03: Leaders of the main moderate Palestinian factions yesterday voted to oppose further negotiations while building continues in Jewish settlements, amid increasing US frustration at Israel’s refusal to prolong a 10-month moratorium on construction.
New Delhi, October 03: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has emerged as the most preferred brand ambassador for the 2010 Commonwealth Games here, with 72 percent of the respondents choosing him in the latest survey by a leading industry lobby.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar came next with 62 percent in the survey, conducted among 10,000 students by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.
Durban, October 03: A plaque renaming as ‘Juma Masjid Square’ the street outside one of the oldest mosques in South Africa built on a plot owned by a Gujarati immigrant was unveiled by India’s Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.
“It was the happiest moment of my life when I unveiled the plaque by the name Juma Masjid Square in the street where one of the oldest mosques of the country (South Africa) stands,” a delighted Ravi told IANS after unveiling the plaque Friday.
“I feel great as I also prayed at this glorious sacred place of worship,” he added.
Cairo, October 03: In a second audio recording in 24 hours, Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden said governments of Muslim nations have not done enough to help Pakistanis hit by floods that killed hundreds and displaced millions.
As in the earlier recording, Bin Laden’s criticism was measured in the message released on Saturday on militant websites.
New Delhi, October 03: India’s woman tennis star Sania Mirza is skipping the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games here Sunday while the men’s tennis team, too, were non-committal about it.
Sania has decided to keep herself fresh for the mixed doubles first round with Leander Paes Monday while another mixed double pair Rohan Bopanna and Nirupama Sanjeev also have a match the same day. The second seeded pair of Paes and Sania are scheduled to take on Saint Lucia’s Stacey Nykita Roheman and Alberton Richelieu in the first round.
New Delhi, October 03: The biggest sporting extravaganza to be ever held in the country, the Commonwealth Games-2010 begins in Delhi today amidst unprecedented security. The games would see the largest participation of sports persons in the history of the Commonwealth Games as more than 6700 athletes and officials from 71 nations will vie for honors in 17 sporting events.
Hyderabad, October 03: National carrier Air India will launch a flight to Chicago from Hyderabad via Delhi by this month-end.
“We are all set to operate flight service to Chicago, connecting Hyderabad with New Delhi from October 31,” airline sources said adding that plans to launch a direct service to San Francisco were also being studied.
The airline would be deploying a Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft to operate the flight direct from Delhi, they said, adding that for the first time Air India would fly a Boeing 777 from Hyderabad.
New Delhi, October 03: The Indian men’s tennis team was an excited lot as they practised and indulged in light-hearted banter during a brief session at the R.K. Khanna stadium here Saturday evening.
Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi arrived here in afternoon for the Commonwealth Games which begins Sunday. Leander Paes will join the team Sunday morning. The team practiced for nearly 40 minutes under the floodlights.
New Delhi, October 03: Calm descended on the Capital on Saturday as anxiety finally gave way to anticipation, if not palpable excitement, on the eve of the Commonwealth Games.
Eerily, the roads were empty; metro trains rattled through deserted stations and bazaars were quiet. The teeming millions conjured up by the word ‘India’ was missing. Delhi was a ghost town on Saturday.
Durban, October 03: Mahatma Gandhi’s message is still relevant today with discrimination on basis of race, caste, tribe, language and gender being current issues globally, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said Saturday at an Indian diaspora conclave here.
“Gandhiji can help us to see the truth, simple as it is,” he said, paying his tribute to Gandhi, the guiding figure of India’s freedom struggle, on his 141st birth anniversary.
Islamabad, October 03: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks today put off a decision on the government’s request to form a commission to interview key witnesses in India.
Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan of the Rawalpindi- based anti-terrorism court asked the prosecution to inform him whether the Indian government has granted permission for the commission to visit that country to interview 24 witnesses, including lone surviving Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab.
Toronto, October 03: Having complained about every aspect of the Commonwealth Games and taking their reservations about India’s ability to hold the show to ridiculous levels, Canada reportedly even expressed reluctance to join the opening ceremonies Sunday.
According to media reports here, the Canadian contingent agreed to march in Sunday’s opening ceremonies only after organizers satisfied some concerns expressed by Canadian officials.