Month: April 2010

Hooda donates gifts to places of worship

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Chandigarh, April 05: A silver chair, silver mace and two dozen crowns presented to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at a public rally were today donated to temples, mosques and gurudwara in the state as per an announcement made by him earlier.

Congress MLA from Samalkha Dharam Singh Chokkar handed over the gifts to priests of various places of worship at a simple function held at Samalkha, an official release said.

The silver chair was presented to Panchkula Sai Baba temple, it said, adding that the valuables were presented to Hooda in a public rally at Samalkha.

Malaylam actor Thilakan expelled from AMMA

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Kochi, April 05: Capping the verbal duel that lasted for weeks, veteran actor Thilakan was today expelled from the apex body of Malyalam movie artistes on grounds of “indiscipline” over his outbursts against the forum and senior actors.

The decision was taken at an executive meeting of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) here attended by its president Innocent and general secretary and popular actor Mohanlal.

India preparing letter for Headley access

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New Delhi, April 05: India is expected to get access to Lashkar-e Taiba operative David Headley within 30 days of sending a letter of request, which is being prepared, government indicated here today.

The indication came as US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer met Home Minister P Chidambaram here and said the issue of access to Headley was being dealt with at the highest level in the Obama administration.

Government sources said the letter, to be sent to the US, is being prepared and access is expected to be given within 30 days after they receive it.

Family protest with dead body

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Bhilwara, April 05: Relatives of a youth, who succumbed to burns, blocked road today carrying the body and demanded immediate arrest of a policeman and two others who allegedly set him on fire.

Narendra Jain was allegedly set abaze on March 16. He died last night at a hospital in Ahemedabad, police said.

Today, his family and other mourners blocked the Sanganer road here and staged a dharna with the dead body demanding immediate arrest of the accused.

However, they agreed for funeral after senior police officials assured action against the accused, police said.

–Agencies

Want total funding for implementing RTE, Mayawati reiterates

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Lucknow, April 05: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Monday reiterated her demand that the central government fund the cost of implementing the Right to Education Act in her state.

Conveying her stand on the issue, state Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told a press conference here: “The chief minister’s expression of the state government’s inability to bear the financial burden arising on account of the implementation of the new act has been misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted.”

Women police stations to come up in UP

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Lucknow, April 05: In keeping with an earlier announcement, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued orders to set up women police stations in 29 districts of the state to deal specifically with cases of crime against the fair sex.

“As announced by Chief Minister Mayawati earlier the state government has issued orders for setting up of women police stations in 29 districts and has also given approval for required posts and staff,” an official spokesman said here today.

Dinakaran defies collegium, does not proceed on leave

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Bangalore/New Delhi, April 05: In an apparent act of defiance, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, who faces allegations of land grab that has stalled his elevation to Supreme Court, has not proceeded on leave as advised by the apex court collegium.

Justice Dinakaran is continuing with his administrative work “as of today”, sources told PTI, adding he has given no indication of proceeding on leave.

Chidambaram copying practices from the US, says CPI-M

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Kolkata, April 05: Crossing swords with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for his comment that the buck stopped with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in tackling law and order problems, the CPI-M today said he was only copying practices followed in the US.

“He is fascinated with American accent. As a home minister, he is copying the practices followed in the US. He brought the proverb from the American table. He is not entitled to do so,” CPI-M state secretariat and Central Committee member Mohammad Salim told reporters.

AMU Kishanganj branch a conscious decision: Nitish

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Patna, April 05: Reacting to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s criticism of Bihar government for its decision to open a branch of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Kishanganj district, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the move was “a conscious decision” taken in consultation with BJP.

“Kishanganj is most backward district in the field of education…our decision to set up AMU centre there is a conscious decision taken in consultation with the BJP,” Kumar told reporters here.

Rs 2.87 lakh looted from bank

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Ludhiana, April 05: Armed assailants today looted Rs 2.87 lakh from a bank at Kohara-Machiwara road, about 20 km from here.

Eight youths, armed with country-made pistols and sharp edged weapons, targeted the State Bank of India’s branch at Kohara-Machiwara road this evening, police said.

Three bank employees, including cashier, were seriously injured in the attack, they said.

Police have registered a case under various sections of the IPC.

–Agencies

US envoy meets Mamata, presents book penned by Obama

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New Delhi, April 05: Ahead of Prime Minister Mammohan Singh’s US visit, US Ambassador Timothy Roemer today met Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee which he described as “common courtesy meeting.”

Asked whether they discussed the nuclear liability bill, which is expected to be introduced in the current session of Parliament, Roemer evaded the question.

The Ambassador, who was apprised about railway projects in the country by senior railway officials, said he discussed with the Railway minister about his visit to West Bengal a few months ago.

Shoaib engages Delhi lawyer to defend him in marriage row

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New Delhi, April 05: Facing allegations of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik today engaged a Delhi-based lawyer who said his marriage with Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui was “illegal” and there was no question of divorce.

“No question of ‘Talak’ arises when the marriage itself is illegal because, as per the Islamic Law, the identity of the bride and bridegroom have to be disclosed at the time of ‘nikah’ (marriage),” senior advocate Ramesh Gupta said at a press conference here.

Woman killed in fire at Kumbh camp

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Haridwar, April 05: A woman was today charred to death and four others sustained burns after a fire broke out at a sadhu camp at the ongoing Kumbh here, police said.

The woman, who could not be identified, was charred to death in the fire that erupted this afternoon at the Madho godeshwar Brindawan camp.

The four injured were rushed to nearby hospital where their condition was stated to be stable.

Short-circuit is stated to be the cause behind the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police Kumbh Ajay Rautela said.

Apex court rejects plea on 1956 pact on Telengana region

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New Delhi, April 05: The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a Hyderabad resident’s plea for implementing an agreement signed by regional leaders in 1956, pledging to protect rights and interests of the people of Telangana region in the new state of Andhra Pradesh then being formed.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Deepak Verma dismissed the plea saying that the apex court cannot entertain such petitions.

Bengal differs with PC’s advice on visiting Lalgarh

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Kolkata, April 05: Disagreeing with the Union Home Minister’s advice to leaders and activists to visit Lalgarh, West Bengal government today said it will be “irresponsible” to allow everybody to go to the Maoist-hit area.

“It will be rather irresponsible if we allow everybody to move wherever he likes. The DM and SP will judge on a case to case basis taking security issues in view,” the state’s Home Secretary, Ardhendu Sen, said here.

SC dismisses MCX petition on forward trading in power

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New Delhi, April 05: The Supreme Court today dismissed the petition of MCX challenging an order of Bombay High Court which had refused to stay CERC circular stopping speculative trading in power sector in the form of derivatives without the electricity regulator’s nod.

A bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice B S Chauhan dismissed the petition of Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) after observing that the High Court was still hearing the matter.

The court also said the matter was listed before the High Court for hearing today also.

Shoaib Malik to be arrested if necessary: Police

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Hyderabad, April 05: Police have not ruled out arresting Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in connection with the case filed against him by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be his first wife.

Police said it might examine Shoaib to check the veracity of some of the assertions made by the complainant.

“If it becomes necessary to arrest somebody we will arrest but it will be based on how the case evolves and what sort of evidences we come across during the investigations,” police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters.

Pakistani Taliban claim attack on U.S. mission

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Islamabad, April 05: Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility on Monday for an attack on the U.S. consulate in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

“Americans are our enemies. We carried out the attack on their consulate in Peshawar. We plan more such attacks,” Pakistani Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

—-Agencies

Women’s commission approached in Ayesha-Shoaib case

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New Delhi, April 05: An online complaint has been registered with the National Commission of Women (NCW) urging the women’s rights panel to take action in the controversy surrounding Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik’s alleged marriage to Ayesha Siddiqui.

Acting on the basis of media reports, Naresh Kadiyan, a social activist from Haryana, has registered a complaint on Ayesha’s behalf that the girl had been subjected to cruelty and harassed for dowry.

SKorean navy pursuing hijacked tanker off Somalia

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Seoul, April 05: A South Korean navy destroyer rushed toward a U.S.-bound supertanker believed to have been hijacked by Somali pirates with up to $160 million of crude oil on board, officials said Monday, the latest bold seizure in the Indian Ocean.

The tanker’s highly volatile cargo prevents crews from carrying guns on board or even lighting cigarettes while on deck. It was unclear what the warship would do once it reached the tanker since firing on the vessel would risk igniting the oil or leaking it into the sea.

I am innocent, says Shoaib

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Hyderabad, April 05: Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, set to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Monday insisted he was innocent and would not leave India until he was cleared of charges of quietly marrying Hyderabad girl Ayesha Siddiqui.

“I am innocent, I haven’t done anything wrong,” a visibly tired Shoaib told an army of unruly journalists outside the Mirza residence here, hours after the police quizzed him on complaints from Siddiqui’s family.

Shoaib added that he was cooperating with the police and had no intention of leaving the country with a sullied image.

Suicide bomber kills 2 police in Russia’s Ingushetia

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Moscow, April 05: A suicide bomber killed at least two policemen in Russia’s Ingushetia region on Monday, the latest in a spate of attacks that underscore the threat from an Islamist insurgency on Russia’s southern flank.

More than 50 people have been killed and 100 injured by suicide bombers over the past week in the Moscow metro and the mainly Muslim regions of Dagestan and Ingushetia in Russia’s restive North Caucasus.

Gen’s watch Track

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Mumbai, April 05: Fastrack, true to its brand name, has always promoted its image to mirror the youth of today and their way of life.

Standing for everything that is in accordance with the pace of Gen X, it will come as little surprise that.

The owners opt to take on the bubbly Genelia D’Souza for the role of their new brand ambassador!

Genelia recently shot for the commercial for the popular watch brand. The actress was busy with.

An outdoor shoot for an upcoming movie when the eager ad crew specifically made their way down to complete the shoot with her.

Something to keep Katrina warm

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Mumbai, April 05: Katrina Kaif received a warm welcome at a media meet to promote her upcoming “Raajneeti” here Saturday evening.

But the cold blast from the air conditioner had her shivering, until co-actor Arjun Rampal gallantly took off his coat and offered it to her.

Dressed in a short, sleeveless, pink dress, Katrina found it too cold at the venue. “It’s way too cold here. It’s so cold!”

Katrina was seen whispering to Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal on the stage. While Ranbir chose to nod his head, Arjun displayed chivalry.

Priyanka, Katrina need rest

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Mumbai, April 05: Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif may not have much in common except super success.

But both are prone to suffer from exhaustion due to over-work. And both actresses have been advised to take it easy by doctors.

Unfortunately for them, their schedules are not listening to their physiology. Last year, Priyanka had.

A series of exhaustion-related health problems including a scary blackout during the shooting of What’s Your Raashee?

That resulted in hospitalisation. Having resolved to take it easy in 2010, Priyanka has gone back to her impossible schedules.