Month: February 2010

AP Govt scoring a self-goal?

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Hyderabad, February 27: The Andhra Pradesh government finds itself in a cleft stick on its claim before the Supreme Court about the presence of Maoists on the Osmania University campus, which has become an epicenter of the ongoing movement for a separate Telangana State.

Having come under flak for deployment of paramilitary forces on the campus, both in the High Court as well as the apex court, the government sought to justify its action citing infiltration of Maoists but is caught in a quandary with the Supreme Court seeking evidence of the same.

Botsa bats for State bifurcation

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Hyderabad, February 27: For the first time, a Congress leader from Andhra region, that too a minister, has come out openly in favour of bifurcation of the State and asserted that he would build a strong case for the separation with the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee which is setting its apparatus together to hold hearings on the contentious issue.

Blatant rule violations behind quarry tragedy?

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Chimakurthy, February 27: Blatant violation of regulations seems to be behind yesterday’s Chimakurthy granite quarry tragedy which claimed 12 lives.

Alarmingly, such flouting of rules appears to be rampant in quarries across the region.

As for the latest mishap, infrastructural lacunae have meant that even after 24 hours only two bodies could be retrieved — those of water engine operator Malineni Pitchaiah (47) of Rajupalem village, Chimakurthy mandal, and wire-saw operator Gangireddy Siva Reddy (35) of Bakkireddypalem village in the same mandal.

Union Budget Disappointing: SDPI

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Bhopal, February 27 (Pervez Bari): The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), has demanded that the UPA Government should have a re-look at hiking of fuel prices, following the presentation of Union Budget, to save “Aam Aadmi” (common man) from further blues of shooting prices of essential goods.

A. Sayeed, General Secretary SDPI, in a Press release said that SDPI is totally disappointed with the Union Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament as increase in fuel prices will further fuel upward the prices of essential commodities.

Nitish, Lalu not to celebrate Holi

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Patna, February 27:Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad have decided not to celebrate Holi this year to express solidarity with the family of ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Abhay Singh, who shot dead his wife and daughter before killing himself.

Both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad were close friends of the deceased legislator’s father Bihar Food and Consumer Protection Minister Narendra Singh since college days in Patna.

Teachers approach court for revised salaries

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New Delhi, February 27:Twenty one teachers of the Guru Nanak Public School, West Punjabi Bagh here, approached the Delhi High Court saying the school was not implementing the sixth pay commission recommendations.

The teachers filed their petition through advocates Ashok Agarwal and Kusum Sharma and pleaded that why their salaries were not revised according to the sixth pay commission recommendations under the Delhi School Education Act.

Justice Kailash Gambhir Friday issued notice to the school and the Director of Education, and asked them to file their responses by April 28.

After Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Loses Gal Pal

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Mumbai, February 27: Most would agree that it is difficult to remain friends with a former flame. But the same holds true even when it comes to the former flame’s close friends. A case in point is Priyanka Chopra, who got extremely close to Shahid Kapoor’s close friend Mubina Rattonsey.

She’s now had a major fall out with her. As reported earlier, Mubina and Shahid were at one point more than close friends, but that was before he got into a relationship with Priyanka. Mubina was close to both Shahid and Priyanka.

Angry Bachchans threaten to skip Filmfare awards

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New Delhi, February 27:A furious Bachchan family has threatened to skip the prestigious Filmfare awards Saturday evening unless the Mumbai Mirror publishes a formal apology for spreading “false” news about Aishwarya Rai’s health.

The Mumbai Mirror and Filmfare both belong to the Times Group. Aishwarya Rai, who was supposed to perform at the event, has decided to pull out.

The Bachchans have also sent a legal notice to the editor of Mumbai Mirror, seeking a retraction and apology.

Pakistan court stops extradition of Taliban leaders

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Islamabad, February 27: A Pakistani court has asked the government not to hand over the Afghan Taliban leaders detained inside the country to any foreign country including the US or Afghanistan.

Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif issued the order Friday after a Pakistan rights group filed a petition arguing that the Afghan Taliban leaders who have been arrested in Pakistan should be tried in the country.

Goa police seize 14 kg hashish

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Panaji, February 27:A drug peddler from Uttarakhand was arrested in Goa Saturday and 14 kg of hashish was seized from him, police said.

Dipak Sunari, 26, was arrested at Pernem in north Goa, 35 km from here, after a tip-off.

“The drugs seized from him are worth Rs.15 lakh in the international market,” a police official from the Pernem police station said.

The official said that Sunari had checked into a hotel in Pernem with the drugs this morning and was to hand over the drugs to a buyer.

Deepika Padukone Causes Mid-Air Excitement

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Mumbai, February 27: It was a flight from Jaipur to Mumbai that the passengers won’t forget in a hurry. On Monday Deepika and her Karthik Calling Karthik team was to fly back on a private jet. But the pilot informed the team that they couldn’t head for Mumbai due to a cyclone that was to hit Mumbai.

Says Deepika, “We had to return on Monday night because many of us had to leave for Dubai for the premiere on Tuesday morning. So from Jaipur to Mumbai we all booked ourselves into the economy class of a commercial airline.”

Pakistan will have the upper hand: Shahid Ali Khan

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New Delhi, February 27:Pakistan will have an edge over India in their World Cup hockey opener because of their recent good performances against the hosts, Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan said Saturday.

Shahid, however, conceded that India will have the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd here Sunday.

“I think we will have an edge over India because we beat them in the last three matches. India will have the home advantage and the crowd will be behind them,” said the Olympian.

Eight killed in Afghanistan clash

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Kabul, February 27:Eight people, including three soldiers, were killed in a clash between security forces and Taliban militants in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province, authorities said Saturday.

“Afghan forces backed by the NATO-led troops had killed five Taliban rebels and arrested seven others during a cleanup operation launched in Chardara district Thursday and concluded Friday,” provincial governor Mohammad Omar said.

Sachin is better than Bradman: Harbhajan Singh

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Jalandhar, February 27: Eulogising milestone man Sachin Tendulkar for his historic ODI double hundred, India’s star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh reckons his illustrious teammate is better than Australian great Sir Don Bradman.

Harbhajan could not witness the record-breaking double century as he skipped the first two matches of the series due to his sister’s wedding.

India could not remain immune to extremism in Pak:Manmohan Singh

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New Delhi, February 27: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated India’s stand to discuss all issues with Pakistan in an atmosphere free from terrorism as he insisted that there is no alternative to dialogue to resolve the issues that divide the two countries.”We should be good neighbours. In that quest we have consistently sought to engage those in Pakistan who are ready to work with us.

Kabul attack: BJP slams government

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New Delhi, February 27: Condemning the suicide attacks on two hotels in Kabul that targeted Indians, BJP today asked the government to explain whether it took up the issue of terrorism with Pakistan in the “right earnest” during the just concluded Foreign Secretary-level talks.

“It is a strange coincidence that the attack in Kabul took place just a day after the talks between India and Pakistan. Did the Government of India take up in right earnest

‘Dilwale Dulhania…’ completes 750 weeks

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Mumbai, February 27: Love story “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, one of the biggest blockbusters of Hindi films, has completed 750 weeks of continuous screenings in a cinema hall.

This Sunday, the film completes 750 weeks at the Maratha Mandir theatre here.

Directed by Aditya Chopra and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, the movie opened to full houses and rave reviews all over the world Oct 20, 1995.

The evergreen production is by Yash Raj films.

—Agencies

Class 11 girl raped by three classmates

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Lucknow, February 27: A Class 11 girl was allegedly raped at gunpoint by three of her classmates in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, police said Saturday, adding that the suspects were absconding.

Residents of Hilwari village in Baghpat, some 400 km from here, held a series of protests, demanding the arrest of the boys.

The 16-year-old victim was abducted Friday by three boys of her class and raped at a secluded place. Medical reports of the girl have confirmed rape, police added.

DMK demands rollback of fuel hike

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Chennai, February 27: UPA ally DMK today demanded an immediate rollback of fuel price hike, saying it would have a ‘cascading effect’ on food prices at a time when the Centre and states were ‘grappling with high food inflation.’

In identical letters to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi sought their immediate intervention for a rollback, at least on the price of diesel to ‘protect farmers and the common man.’

Pak,Afghanistan on priority list of British FP: Miliband

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London, February 27 : British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were on top of the list of his government’s foreign policy priorities.

Addressing the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, after the committee tabled its report “Global Security: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Miliband said issues concerning both Pakistan Afghanistan warranted widest possible engagement.

South Africa decide to bat against India

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Ahmedabad, February 27: South Africa skipper Jacques Kallis won the toss and opted to bat against India in the third and final cricket One-day International here today.

India are leading the series 2-0.

For India Rohit Sharma makes a comeback and Murali Vijay and Abhimanyu Mithun are making their debuts. Paceman Ashish Nehra is rested.

South Africa have brought back Loots Bosman and Morne Morkel apart from giving Lonwabo Tsotsobe his first game of the series.

Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Charl Langeveldt miss out from the visiting side.

Teams:

18 prisoners flee after attacking police in Haryana

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Haryana, February 27: Eighteen prisoners who were being taken for a court hearing here escaped after attacking a police party here Saturday, authorities said.

The Haryana police have launched a massive manhunt in Palwal town, 45 km from New Delhi, and arrested two of the prisoners.

“Eighteen prisoners were being brought in a police van to the court complex here from Bhondsi prison in Gurgaon district when they attacked the police party with sharp-edged weapons. The attack was pre-planned,” a police officer said.

‘MNIK’ first truly global Bollywood film, say distributors

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New Delhi, February 27: Having earned around Rs.150 crore (Rs.1.5 billion/$35 million) worldwide in 10 days, distributors Fox STAR Studios say they are extremely happy with the “truly global” response to Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “My Name Is Khan” (MNIK). They now plan to increase the Bollywood presence in the Middle East through the film and also release it in countries like Germany, Poland and Egypt.

3 killed,26 injured in suicide blast in Pakistan

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Islamabad, February 27: At least three people, including two policemen, were killed and 23 injured Saturday in a suicide attack at a police station in Pakistan’s restive North West Frontier Province, police said Saturday.

One of the two suicide bombers blew him up at the gate killing a policeman there, while another attacker drove his explosive-laden vehicle into the police station, where a police personnel and a child were killed, Karak police chief said.

The blast also damaged the police headquarters adjacent to the targeted police station and a nearby mosque, Geo TV reported.