India News

New Delhi: Nationalist leaders of Gilgit Baltistan have asked India to stop lip service and take stronger action to halt Chinese projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Chief of Gilgit Baltistan National Movement Manzoor Parwana Told ANI over phone: "If India is really serious then it should react more strongly and it should not just resort to lip service or statements."

Parwana further said  "India should try and halt the Chinese projects in our region.

Earlier, the  Ministry of External Affairs spokesman said in a statement that China should cease all its activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The MEA spokesperson was reacting to Xinuha report which quoted Chinese President as stating that China will continue to engage in projects with Pakistan inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

The MEA in a strongly worded statement further said: "India believes that Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. The Chinese side is fully aware of India''s position and our concerns about Chinese activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir".

The MEA''s  response is seen as a quid pro quo as it came a day after China expressed disappointment over Indian Prime  Minister visit to Arunachal Pradesh ahead of Tuesday''s elections.

Taking objection to Chinese projects in Gilgit Baltistan, the chief of the Gilgit Baltistan National Alliance Wajahat
Hassan Khan  told ANI over phone: "China has already occupied a part of Gilgit Baltistan , a little part of Hunza is under its control and Aksai Chin is also occupied."

Since Gilgit Baltistan is a disputed area, China has no business to build projects here, Khan added.

The nationalist leaders further told ANI that there is a perception in the region that India is party to the dispute and it has every right to object to China building projects there.

India is objecting to various Chinese funded projects in PoK namely Neelum Jhelum project, Diamer Bhasha Dam , Extension of Karakoram Highway, Sost Dry Port and Bunji Dam to name a few.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Delhi Service Tax Commissionerate launched the Automation of Central Excise and Service Tax (ACES) here on Wednesday.

ACES is a new centralised and web based software application of the Central Board of Excise and Customs that is now available to the service of tax assesses.

ACES offers various online facilities and services such as registration, filling of service tax returns, refund claims, filing of intimations, tracking, dispute resolutions and online viewing of your records.

Launching the service, Special Secretary S.K. Goel said: “The ACES would help the trade community to transact any of their matters related to service tax sitting anywhere in the world as long as they have access to the Internet facility.”

Describing ACES as a win- win opportunity for both the trade community and the government

Goel said: “The new system would help in improving government service and also help to monitor tax payment and early dispute management systems.”

Additional Director General at the Directorate of Systems, D.P Dash, said: “ACES reduces the paper work, visits to the departmental offices, and improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in indirect tax administration in the country.”

“ACES would replace the current mode of manual filing of returns, payment of taxes, seeking of refunds or rebate of duties, obtaining various permissions and approvals from the department by an electronic interface,” Dash added.

He further elaborated that ACES would enable assesses to obtain registration of Central Excise and Service tax online, to file statutory returns electronically, claims, intimation and also to view and track the status of their documents online.

ICWAI Chairman Uttam Praksh Agarawal assured all help in making ACES accessible to the community.

The Directorate of Systems in co-operation with Hewlett Packard, Tata Consultancy Services, BSNL, Wipro and the National Information Centre, has developed the ACES software.

With its launch in Delhi, ACES will now be available in seven service tax commissionerates out of the 27 in the country.

The service tax department is hoping that ACES would be user friendly in an era in which problems such as delays in registration, non- processing of refunds etc should be complaints of a bygone era.

ACES would enable the department to gather and access to data and ensure MIS functionality leading to a fair and responsive tax administration.

Source ANI

Jammu: Reacting to China’s statement over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tour of Arunachal Pardesh, Union Minister for New and Renewable resources, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, matained that China is in the habit of making noises, but Arunchal Pradesh will remain N integral part of India.

Addressing a felicitation function organised for the Jammu and Kashmir under-16 cricket team at his Jammu residence, Abdullah said: “China may make as much noise as it wants to make, Arunchal is part of India, integral part of India. Therefore it does not cut any ice as far as I am concerned. It is a part of India and will remain part of India. China can speak as much as it wants to speak.”

Reacting to Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s statement that the Center is ready to talk with all political sections of Kashmir, he said: “I heard Mr. Chidambarm today when I was in the waiting lounge of Indian Airlines, Chidambaram said that I will talk to everybody and anybody, but it will be a very quiet thing. It will not be put before the press as earlier when we have talks with Ehsaan Dar and I know how the press was jumping at them. So that’s a very good thing. let him have a quiet talk and let him have and find way out of this tragedy we have.”

Source ANI

New Delhi: India and Argentina on Wednesday recognized that climate change is a global challenge with strong economic, environmental and social dimensions.

The leaders of the two countries said climate change impacts all countries, but is particularly severe for developing countries, given their vulnerabilities, inadequate means and limited capacities to adapt to its effects.

They agreed that, in the fight against climate change, priority has to be given to mitigation and adaptation and this has to be supported by developed countries in terms of transfer of technology and finance to meet the incremental costs of adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to addressing Climate Change in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC] and enhanced implementation of the Convention under the Bali Action Plan, so as to reach an agreed outcome at COP15 of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner led a high-level delegation that included the country''s Foreign Minister and a large business delegation.

Kirchner is in India on three-day visit to enhance bilateral relations and trade between the two countries.

Her visit has taken place coinciding with 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Argentina.

This is also the first Presidential visit from Argentina in 15 years. The last visit was by President Menem in 1994. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina was in 1995 by PV Narasimha Rao for the G-15 Summit.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Leaders of India and Argentina on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the international economic and financial crisis and agreed that the current situation demands restructuring of the international financial and monetary system so that it can become a truly efficient tool for the promotion of sustainable development that would contribute to the reduction of inequalities and promote social inclusion.

They underlined that the voice of emerging and developing economies, in the international financial and monetary system, should be heard in order to avoid new and potentially more calamitous crises in the future.

Both Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed the Pittsburgh Summit Statement of September 2009 which recognizes the need for continued coordinated actions internationally for rebuilding confidence in the global economy.

Both said they would endeavor together with the other members to ensure the implementation of the decisions taken at the Washington, London and Pittsburgh Summits, particularly those referred to reduce poverty and implement the Millennium Development Goals.

They reaffirmed commitment on improving the regulation, transparency and integrity of financial markets, strengthening the healthy functioning of the financial system and safeguarding stability.

They emphasized the importance of strong commitment to reform of international financial institutions (IFIs) and recognized that greater involvement of leading emerging economies in international financial institutions will be crucial for their ultimate success.

Both sides recognized the strategic role played by the G-20 in promoting concerted and effective global actions towards sustainable recovery and expressed support of G-20’s new role as the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

Both sides underlined the importance of successfully concluding multilateral negotiations at the WTO for an ambitious and balanced outcome, in line with the Doha Mandate and the principles guiding the negotiations with a thrust on addressing core developmental concerns.

Both sides recognized that negotiations must respect core Ministerial mandates such as Special and Differential treatment for developing countries, less than Full Reciprocity (LTFR) in tariff reduction commitments and a comparable level of ambition in Agriculture and Non Agriculture Market Access (NAMA).

Argentina and India remain committed to engage constructively for reaching a fair and balanced result in the Doha Round. They called on developed countries to show greater flexibility for resumption of negotiations to enable successful conclusion of the Round.

Source ANI

The Argentine President welcomed Indian entrepreneurs stating that they will find a conducive environment for productive investment and skilled human resources. The Indian Prime Minister acknowledged the growing importance of Argentine business in India. Both sides welcomed the increasing contacts among their entrepreneurs which stress the ample business opportunities that exist.

Both leaders have recognized that trade and economic relations underpin bilateral relations.

In recognition of the need for fully realizing the untapped potential of bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and Argentina, both countries have agreed, through exchange of formal communication between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, to facilitate on reciprocity basis, five years multiple entry gratis visas for businessmen of each other’s country. The Indian side welcomed the fact that the Argentine Consulate General and Trade Promotion Centre in Mumbai is already fully operational reflecting Argentina''s decision to increase its presence in the Indian market and opening up new opportunities for entrepreneurs from both nations.

Both sides also noted the opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various sectors such as science and technology, agriculture, small and medium enterprises and agro-based industries, mining and hydrocarbons and civilian nuclear cooperation. They agreed to enhance direct contacts between the business circles of the two countries, including through participation in trade/commercial exhibitions in both countries as well as through contacts between regions and cities of the two countries.

Argentina and India, as active countries with a long tradition in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, also reiterated their intention to develop, promote and cooperate in this field in accordance with their respective international obligations and commitments. They will make use of the synergies existing between the two countries and the vast experience of their nuclear scientists and technologists.

Underlining the importance of bilateral cooperation in culture and education for promoting greater understanding and closer friendship between India and Argentina, both sides agreed to explore possibilities for cooperation in this area including by the establishment of linkages between each other''s Universities and think tanks.

The two leaders expressed support for closer bilateral cooperation in the area of energy and for the utilization of renewable and alternative energy sources and respective technologies as a basis for sustainable development and as part of the global effort in addressing the challenges of Climate Change.

The two leaders shared the view that civil nuclear energy can play an important role as a safe, sustainable and non-polluting source of energy in meeting rising global demands for energy. Taking into account their respective capabilities and experience in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy both India and Argentina have agreed to encourage and support scientific, technical and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit in this field.

Both sides noted that the India-MERCOSUR PTA has come into force with effect from June 2009. They agreed that the operationalization of the PTA will further facilitate trade and improve market access between India and MERCOSUR. The two sides reiterated the desire of India and Argentina to widen and deepen the PTA.

The leaders welcomed the signature of several agreements in their presence as a testimony of the quality change observed in their mutual relations. They also encouraged ongoing negotiations in several fields to conclude successfully

The two leaders exchanged views on a broad range of regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as issues of global concern such as the current global financial crisis, human rights, countering terrorism, climate change, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, promoting sustainable development, addressing the environmental challenges and strengthening the social dimension of globalization.

The Indian and Argentine sides emphasized the essential role of the UN for maintaining global peace and security, for promoting the economic and social advancement of all people and for meeting global threats and challenges. India and Argentina stressed the need to implement the process of UN reforms to make it more representative, legitimate and effective. Moreover, they agreed that any expansion and restructuring of the Security Council must reflect contemporary realities, increase transparency and democracy and include developing countries.

Both parties agreed on the need to give a new impulse to multilateral negotiations in the area of disarmament, especially weapons of mass destruction.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Wednesday expressed deep shock and anguish over the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and reiterated the need for intensifying global cooperation in combating international terrorism.

In a statement issued after her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, both leaders expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be brought to justice. They strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whoever, wherever and for whatever purpose and stressed that there can be no justification, whatsoever, for any acts of terrorism.

Both countries urged the international community to adopt the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which is before the UN General Assembly. They agreed to cooperate against international terrorism in the UN and abide by relevant UN conventions and resolutions in force in the fight against terrorism. They agreed to further expand the dialogue and cooperation in combating terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Visiting Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Wednesday and both countries signed nine agreements, including ones pertaining to sports, science and technology, industrial research, hydrocarbons, trade promotion and business visas.

Amongst the agreements signed was a pact on business visas signed by External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna and his Argentine counterpart Jorge Taiana.

India''''s junior minister for Science and Technology, Prithviraj Singh Chauhan and his Argentine counterpart signed another agreement on cooperation in science and technology, spread over three years between 2009 and 2011

Prior to the signing of the bilateral pacts, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the mutually beneficial cooperation and partnership between India and Argentina encompassing political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation including Antarctic research and cultural cooperation.

They agreed to work together for further enhancement of their multifaceted relationship to a higher level based on a long term perspective and shared democratic values, respect for human rights, mutual understanding and cooperation and similarity of views on major international issues.

Both sides highlighted the importance of further enhancing the exchange of high-level bilateral visits, including at the level of Head of State and Head of Government.

The two sides reiterated their will to continue and expand bilateral dialogue and cooperation comprehensively. This comprehensive dialogue is based on common values and interests and will aim at mutually beneficiary cooperation in all spheres, including among others dialogue on political and strategic issues, economic and trade relations, consular issues, energy, investment, services and tourism as well as science and technology, culture and education.

Both leaders desired that this comprehensive dialogue should lead to a strategic partnership that will cover global issues of common concern including in the framework of the UN its specialised organisations and other fora and groups of countries in which both parties participate.

In order to achieve concrete results flowing from their dialogue the leaders directed their Foreign Ministries to energize their consultations and workout a plan of action. For this purpose, Foreign Office Consultations will be held in 2010 in India – The year of the Bicentennial of the May Revolution

Both leaders decided to encourage regular interactions between the respective legislative bodies. They agreed to expand bilateral exchanges between civil society and foster people-to-people contacts, promote tourism and develop closer cultural and academic ties.

Both sides noted that the next Joint Commission meeting is to be held in Argentina in the first half of 2010. Dates for the meeting would be finalized through mutual consultations.

The two sides also expressed satisfaction at the growing engagement between both sides in the trade and economic spheres. They noted that some Indian companies have made investments in Argentina and that bilateral trade increased from 694 million dollars in 2003 to 1328 million dollars in 2008 doubling in the last five years.

The two sides agreed that the bilateral trade target should be US $ 3 billion by 2012. Both leaders expressed keenness to expand and diversify trade and economic cooperation in areas in which Argentina and India have comparative advantages, and to utilize the untapped potential in this area.

In the context of encouraging greater trade between the two countries, both leaders agreed that efforts should be made to facilitate the entry of Argentine agricultural and agro-industrial products into India and the entry of Indian pharmaceutical products into Argentina.

In the context of deepening the ongoing bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector, both leaders expressed satisfaction that the Memorandum of Understanding on Agriculture and Allied Sectors and the Memorandum of Understanding on Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards are at an advanced stage of finalization.

The leaders urged their competent authorities and technical teams to take the necessary measures to expand trade and investments They agreed to work together for enhancing bilateral investments in various sectors, including in knowledge- based industries and agro-industries.

Source ANI

Sonahat (Assam): Thousands of students formed a human chain in the Sonahat region in Assam on Tuesday to demand fences along India-Bangladesh border.

Insurgency-hit Assam shares a 272-kilometer long border with Bangladesh of which about 70 per cent has been fenced with barbed wire.

All Assam Students Union (AASU), an influential student organization in the state, organised the event.

Demanding implementation of the Assam Accord within a specific time frame protestors demanded the completion of border fencing on a war footing.

"If the Government can seal India-Pakistan border within three years so why not in case of Indo-Bangladesh border…it is a crime on the part of Government at the Centre and Assam…through this illegal Bangladeshi immigrants the ISI (Pakistan spy agency Inter Services Intelligence), HUJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, a Bangladesh based militant outfit) and other fundamentalist groups have entered," said Sammujal Bhattacharya, advisor, All Assam Students Union.

The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Agitation in New Delhi on August 15, 1985.

Though the Accord brought an end to the Assam Agitation or Assam Movement, a popular movement led by AASU and other outfits against illegal immigrants in Assam between 1979 and 1985.

The porous India-Bangladesh border has always been a bone of contention with allegations that hordes of illegal Bangladeshi migrants enter Assam for livelihood, thereby upsetting the region''s demographic profile.

Source ANI

Allahabad: Protests were staged in Allahabad against China’s objections to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh state.

Raising anti-China slogans, the protesters burnt the Chinese flag.

"We have taken China''s comments very seriously and hence burnt the Chinese flag today," said Mukund Tiwari, a protester.

On Tuesday, Beijing said it was "seriously dissatisfied" by the visit of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to a disputed Himalayan region.

China''s foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu accused an unnamed Indian leader of ignoring China''s concerns by visiting the State of Arunachal Pradesh.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had travelled to Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month for an election rally ahead of Tuesday''s State Assembly polls.

India and China fought a brief but bloody border war, partly over Arunachal Pradesh, in 1962, and while trade between the two has since flourished, the border disputes are yet to be resolved.

There has been a flurry of reports in the Indian media of Chinese incursions along the border -- shrugged off by both governments.

Also, the Government of India this month protested against a Chinese embassy policy of issuing different visas to residents of disputed Kashmir.

Source ANI

Fazilika: Sufi saints have been known for centuries to have spread the message of brotherhood, love and peace beyond the religious confines of different communities in India.

People of Punjab recently organized a fair dedicated to Peer Baba Muhammad Ali, and a large number of believers of the mystic converged regardless of caste, creed or gender, to pay obeisance at his mausoleum.

The fair is organised at Baba’s mausoleum annually, which is located along the Fazilka-Ferozepur Highway in southwest Punjab. It is being held since 1947 Partition.

It is believed that the mausoleum has been in existence since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.

As the owner of the land in which mausoleum is located belongs to a Hindu Seth Munsi Ram, a Hindu family is the caretaker of the mausoleum and organizes the fair.

Be it Hindu, Sikh or a Muslim – they pay obeisance with great faith and devotion.

“Devotees of all faiths come here. Devotees seek the blessing of the Peer Baba with ardent devotion. There is no distinction made among Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. No matter who belongs to which religion and caste, everyone gets an equal treatment in the house of Peer Baba Muhammad Ali,” said Kailash Rani, a devotee.

An example of communal harmony in India, this holy place comes alive with activities involving shopping, food, sports and cultural programmes.

On this occasion, various rural sports events are organized during the fair with Kabaddi attracting from nearby villages participate with great enthusiasm.

The idea is to inspire youngsters to take up sports and keep them away from bad habits like drug addiction.  It’s a unique effort that has succeeded.

“Every year, sports events like kabaddi are organized and artistes are roped in to entertain. Such events inspire people to stay away of all bad habits. Whatever offerings we receive are spent on activities that benefit humanity, which includes sports and health,” said Narendra Jeet, a devotee.

“This fair is organised in collaboration with all religious communities. It is an excellent initiative to maintain peace and brotherhood among the people,” said Bohar Singh, another devotee.

On this occasion, a rural fair without Sufi and folk music would have remained incomplete. Thus, noted singers like Mohammad Sadaique sang devotional and folk songs. The fair helped in binding the people together.

Source ANI

Kolkata: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday made it clear at a press conference at the WBPCC headquarters here that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India and that the assembly elections held there under the Indian Constitution on Tuesday proved it beyond doubt.

He also rejected China''s objection to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, visiting the state, saying it was absolutely appropriate for the Indian Prime Minister to visit the state for campaigning as the leader of the Congress Party.

Mukherjee was responding to reservations on the Prime Minister’s visit to Arunachal, as expressed by China.

Mukherjee said just a few months ago the people of Arunachal had sent their representatives to the Indian Parliament under the Indian Constitution.

Therefore, it was quite appropriate that the Prime Minister of the country, as the leader of the Congress Party, visited the state for campaign.

Mukherjee pointed out that he too had visited the state for campaigning.

He said recently West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Home Minister P.Chidambaram had had a detailed discussion on the Maoist situation in the state.

He said the Maoist movement was not confined to just West Bengal, but was an all India problem.

Earlier, Mukherjee presided over a meeting of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress at the party office in Kolkata.

Mukherjee said that just a few months back people of the state had sent their representatives to Parliament under the Indian constitution.

Source ANI

Chandigarh: To spread the universal message of peace and love through music, over 500 students recently converged here to participate in the 4th International Peace Festival.

Students from different parts of the world, having assembled under one roof, spoke the language of peace, love and happiness.

The students belonging to India, America, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries cherished music from different parts of world.

One of the special attractions on this occasion was a musical group from Pakistan, which created a fusion of traditional and western music to appeal for unity among the youth across the world.
 
Camaraderie, joy and festivity were visible among the participants as they mingled and interacted with each other for five days.
 
“Music reaches directly to the heart. It brings a message of peace to all communities. So, I thought, what better way than presenting local and international music together to deliver a message of peace. So, we fused local and international music to tell the people that we have brought a essence of peace. Through our music we wanted to tell them that we are with them and we have the same respect for them in our hearts that they have for us,” said Firoze, one of the participants from Pakistan.
 
Besides musical events, the festival featured plays, seminars and peace parades and ensured that the youth understood the significance of `peace and unity’.
 
The event coincided with the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi, the Father of Indian nation and promoter of non-violence and truth.
 
Through personal interactions and their performances, all participants attempted to present their respective culture and faith in the best possible way.
 
Other participants included students from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Philippines who mesmerized the audience with their stunning dance and musical performances.
 
The students stayed together to understand each other.
 
“In this festival just small things are happening. Lot of students are staying with families for example and so they get tot learn more about what home life is like and just get to know each other more and so people are here to learn, observer, understand each other, be respectful and we need peace in the world. There have been two World Wars. All these countries are spending more and more money on weapons,” said Christine Singh, Coordinator, International Peace festival.
 
“I think that people from around the world actually need to join together.  As a whole, as a world we have missed a lot of connection and I think it will be really good is we just come together again and the connection that I have been making so far has been really great. People here are just amazing and I really like India and I think that we should have really an International Peace Festival,” said Lexi Macavinchey, a volunteer from the United States.

Source ANI

Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Music it is said, happens to be universal language and this was reiterated by Bruno Beiri, a musician from Switzerland who regaled a houseful hall of school and other guests in Dehradun recently.

Indeed, the students of Unison World School in Dehradun were left spellbound by the drone of the Swiss-alphorn played by Beiri.

Incidentally, this performance was staged on the Founder''s Day celebrations of the school and Bruno Beiri accompanied by Sandro Schneebeli reciprocated in a befitting manner.

Both the musicians rose to the occasion with their beautiful rendition on their Swiss musical instruments.

Bruno Bieri, who also happens to be a music teacher in the land of Alps, shared a few light moments with the students and introduced them to the melody and rhythm of Swiss music.

On his part, Sandro Schneebeli, a guitarist and composer, complimented Bieri and the duo swayed the audience.

An ace jazz as well as classical and traditional Swiss music forms, Brieri was all praise for the Indian music.

He noted that music transcends all barriers and narrated how the Indian Tabla could be beautifully fused with the Swiss-Alphorn to produce a melodious rhythm.

"Indian tabla with the Swiss-Alphorn… the Indian tabla gave me the rhythm and the horn gave the opposite, the mellow. So there is collaboration. There is really a communication. There is common equation with nations because music has the soul quality of every nation inside," said Brieri.

He had the students in raptures when he sang the Swiss-yodel and played the Swiss-Hang.

Brieri, who idolises sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and percussionist Zakir Hussain was all praise for Indian music and said that music originated in India and that it was from here that Europeans learnt the art of music.

"Indian music is so huge (expansive). I cannot give any message. You (India) already gave the message to Europe and so we take it with Ravi Shankar, with Zakir Hussain. We are still in moment to say ''thank you'' for your message and now you ask me to give a message but I can''t because India has already given such a big message," added Brieri.

No wonder, it was not only a memorable experience for the student''s of Unison World School which also acted in reinforcing cultural bondage between two beautiful nations - India and Switzerland sans any barrier, courtesy the universal language of music.

Source ANI

Jaipur: Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty accompanied Jermaine Jackson, the elder brother of the late pop start Michael Jackson, to Amber Fort in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Shilpa and her fiancé Raj Kundra accompanied Jackson and his wife Halima to the fort.

She said that she wanted to show her friends how beautiful India was.

"My friends wanted to see how beautiful India was, so, I thought that which place but Rajasthan. Jaipur and I have an old connection,"said Shetty.

Jackson was spellbound by the magnificence of Jaipur, and said: "I think it is a beautiful city, it''s my first visit to Jaipur and I have really liked it a lot it''s beautiful."

Amber Fort is a blend of both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) elements.

Jackson gave Shetty a lot of moral support when the actress had to face some rude comments made by the late Jade Goody during the celebrity reality show Big Brother.

Source ANI

Wellington/Mumbai: Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi has raised the prospect of other countries, including South Africa, Australia or New Zealand hosting a similar league in the future.

Though welcoming the news, New Zealand Cricket Chairman Justin Vaughan expressed doubts about New Zealand being in the market, given the unfavourable time of year to play cricket in this country.

The New Zealand Herald however quoted Vaughan as saying that talks were still ongoing about attracting sponsors for the domestic four-day first class championship and 50-over competitions this season.

If nothing was forthcoming, there was no threat to either competition, with solid revenue streams coming in from the international side of the game, he said.

He said that the winner of the HRV-sponsored domestic Twenty20 tournament in January will represent New Zealand in next year''s Champion League.

The tournament will be held around the same time of year, but there is a question mark over which country will host it.

Meanwhile Otago''s lame performances in the inaugural Champions League has been acknowledged by skipper Craig Cumming.

"We had high expectations," he said.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) will conduct a week-long bilateral exercise codenamed - Eastern Bridge - at the RAFO Base, Thumrait, Oman, from October 22.

This will be the first-ever air exercise between the two countries.

Six, single-seat, Darin-I Jaguars from the Indian side will participate alongside RAFO Jaguars and F-16s.

Incidentally, the two Air Forces are the only ones that continue to operate the twin-engine Jaguar aircraft till date.

The IAF will also involve two IL-78 MKI air-to-air refueler aircraft for tanking the Jaguars enroute to Oman. Meanwhile, an IL-76 will airlift the IAF air warriors to Oman.

The main IAF contingent comprises 33 officers and 65 personnel below officer rank (PBOR).

The support team of IL-76 and IL-78 MKI additionally comprises 12 officers and 26 PBOR.
Group Captain V Dedgaonkar is the team leader, while Group Captain K Kale is the Exercise Director for the IAF.

The Jaguar Detachment will be led by Wing Commander A Mathur. The pilots belong to the two Jaguar squadrons - 16 (Cobras) and 27 (Flaming Arrows) that are based at IAF''s Gorakhpur airbase under Central Air Command.

A senior Air HQ observer along with one staff officer will also visit the IAF contingent during the period of the exercise.

The exercise in the Gulf region will enhance understanding of operational, maintenance and administrative procedures between the RAFO and the IAF.

The bilateral exercise would also be cost-effective in terms of benefit realization of operational and tactical preparedness over an unknown mixed terrain of land and desert.

Oman features among IAF''s priority-one country listed for defence cooperation.

IAF-RAFO defence cooperation was initiated in 2006, and has increased substantially in the current year.

The defence cooperation is characterized by high-level visit exchanges, training and bilateral exercises between the two air forces.

Oman has also been availing courses in India on a self-financing basis. Oman has also been providing turn-around facilities to our transiting military aircraft. Several rounds of Air Force staff talks with RAFO have now provided the necessary framework to expand defence cooperation with the RAFO and rest of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries.

Oman is geographically India''s closest neighbor among the Arab countries in the strategically vital Persian Gulf region.

The presence of over 3, 50,000 expatriate Indians and centuries of people-to-.people contact further enhances its importance in India''s security mosaic.

Source ANI

Sanand (Gujarat): A private firm has launched a dry port with the latest facilities here that includes state of the art inland container depot (ICD) services to both importers and exporters.

Hasti Petro Chemical and Shipping Limited (HPCSL) has launched its second inland container depot (ICD) named the Thar Dry Port at Sanand, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

This privately operated ICD has assured a wide range of services including logistics, transportation and provision of facilities for bonded and non-bonded warehousing.

The company is expecting to do a business of both import and export of around 2000 to 3000 laden containers in the initial six months of its operation.

"We are expecting an initial business of around 2000-3000 containers after the period of six months. Thereafter we are targeting of having a volume of around 3500 to 5000 containers and finally leading to 5000 to 7000 containers over the next two years," said Ruchir Parekh, Managing Director, Hasti Petro Chemical and Shipping Limited (HPCSL).

The Thar Dry Port is an inland inter-modal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operates as a nodal centre for the trans-shipment of marine cargo to inland destinations.

"Gujarat has a good volume of trade, both for exports and imports. This facility has been launched for the benefit of importers and exporters so that they don''t need to visit a sea port and can get clearances close to their workplace," observed Lipika Majumdar Roy Chowdhury, Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs, Ahmedabad.

HPCSL set up its first ICD at India''s northwestern city of Jodhpur in 2001.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Wednesday expressed his satisfaction with the preparations, including security set up for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be staged in New Delhi.

After visiting the various sports facilities here, Smith said that he was confident that India would stage a ''first class'' Commonwealth Games on time.

He dismissed media reports, which said that games preparations are lagging behind vis-à-vis various aspects.

" I have seen some commentaries, which say, we worry about the facility being behind the schedule. These comments are always made in the run up to any Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games. The same was said in Melbourne in the run up to Commonwealth Games. The same was said in the run up to Sydney Olympic Games. So, these things are always said and in the end, you always find facilities are always ready for Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games," said Smith.

About security arrangements for the mega sporting event to be held next year in October, Smith said that Australia is confident with the kind of measures India is taking to tackle and thwart any possible militant strike.

" We have also been briefed on security arrangements. We are being closely consulted as other Commonwealth countries are. We are confident that India is taking all the necessary precautions and arrangements," he added.

Earlier, some of the officials of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had expressed concern over New Delhi''s preparedness to hold the Games next year.

Mike Fennell, President of the CGF had written to Games organisers expressing concern at their reluctance to hire foreign experts and the tardy progress of work.

He also sought an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to help ''revive'' the games preparations.

While touring the various sports facilities being readied for the Commonwealth Games, Smith announced that three hockey scholarships to budding players-- one each for woman and male hockey players and a hockey coach are being offered by Australia.

Source ANI

Ranchi: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi arrived in Jharkhand on a two-day visit today.

During his tour, he will visit Dumka, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh and Ranchi. He is scheduled to interact with Youth Congress workers, the NSUI and party leaders.

On Thursday, he will visit the Maoist strongholds of Chatra and Daltonganj. He will also visit Jamshedpur.

The visit comes against the backdrop of the killing of a Jharkhand Special Branch police inspector Francis Induwar in the state recently.

On September 30, Maoists had kidnapped Induwar from Khunti district. It is believed that they wanted release of their two leaders Kobad Ghandy and Chatrodhar Mahato, arrested by law enforcement authorities in New Delhi and West Bengal respectively earlier in September.

Induwar''s body was found on the Jamshedpur-Ranchi Highway on October 6. It was then reported that a note had been found that warned the government that they could expect more of the same treatment if their demands were not acceded to.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Sanjana Jon, sister of convicted fashion designer Anand Jon, lent her support to ''Save the Girl Child'' campaign in India.

Sanjana, who is in India to participate in the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week beginning October 24 in New Delhi, roped in young celebrities for a calendar photo shoot for the campaign.

Standing on the lawns of the India Gate in early morning, Jon and other celebrities like tennis player Tania Sachdev, posed for photographs with the children.

"We are all here actually supporting the girl child. Through fashion, we want to show that young icons of India are stepping forth to support the unborn girl child," said Sanjana.

Despite laws banning tests to determine the sex of an unborn child, the killing of female foetuses continues in some regions of the country.

Activists say female foeticide is rising because of the availability of technologies like ultrasonography and amniocentesis to determine the gender of foetuses at the request of the parents. If the foetus is found to be a girl, it is aborted.

As a result, the government says around 10 million girls have been killed by their parents -- either before or immediately after birth -- over the past 20 years.

Source ANI

Agra: Train services were badly affected after five bogies of a goods train derailed in the Jaooj area near Agra on Wednesday morning.

According to officials, no one was injured in the accident.

The incident took place between Jaooj and Bhandai stations under Jhansi division of North-Central railway, they added.

The incident affected train services related to the route, as the Chhattisgarh Express, Punjab Mail, Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express and Taj Express had to be stopped due to the incident.

Relief and rescue operations have started and the track is expected to be fixed by this evening.

Source ANI

New Delhi: It was the idea of General Bipin Chandra Joshi to raise the Rashtriya Rifles to fight insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.  Initially, the plan was to have 25 percent of the strength of the Rashtiya By By I. Ramamohan Rao
 
Rifles Battalions consisting of regular troops, while the rest would consist of ex-servicemen.  But it was soon realized that ex-servicemen would not like to be involved in anti-militancy work and would prefer to settle back home.
 
As of now, the Rashtriya Rifles battalions are paramilitary forces, which are under the operational control of the Army.  The RR battalions do not have heavy weapons, but are equipped with automatic rifles, medium machine guns and surveillance equipment and devices to locate improvised explosive devices.

At present, the anti-naxal operations are being conducted by the State Governments.  The State Governments would normally do command and control of operations, and that would give rise to sensitive situations.  As such the effort is to raise Special Forces like the Cobra battalions of Andhra Pradesh, which would continue to operate under the State Government.

Special Commando forces are being raised in the Naxal affected States and the Army has been giving them training in counter insurgency operations.

But the task is colossal.  It has been officially indicated that Naxals are active in 230 out of the 600-odd districts in the country.   According to documents seized from their hideouts, the Naxals had plans to seize power in the country by carrying out a  ‘revolution’.  Kobad Gandhy, who is in police custody in Delhi, is perhaps the tip of the iceberg with his six different identities.

For over five years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been saying that Naxalism is a major threat to the internal security of the country.  He has been repeating it at every Chief Minister’s conference, but the action taken against them on the ground was not effective – may be because the last UPA Government at the Centre was dependent on the support of CPI (M), which was sympathetic to the Maoists.

The situation has changed since the last Parliament elections.  Even Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has realized that he has no place in the Maoist scheme of things. He had to take action against the Maoists in what they called ‘liberated’ areas in Lalgarh and has requested the Centre to retain the paramilitary forces there.

Manmohan Singh should make it clear that the fight against the Naxals would be a no holds barred battle.  Otherwise, the fear is that the Maoists would emerge as the Taliban of India.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Speaking in Mumbai where he had gone to address an election rally, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, said the Government of India “was not in favour of using the Armed Forces” against the Naxals  as “we have other instruments – the police , the paramilitary forces- which are capable of tackling this menace”.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony echoed a similar sentiment when he said the Government of India was not in favour of getting the Armed Forces involved in the fight against Naxals.  The impression given by him was that the Indian Air Force, which had sought the approval of the Defence Ministry to fire against the Naxals, was only permitted to do so in ‘self-defence’.

Have the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister spoken a little too early?  Will the Naxals give the Government of India a choice?  Home Minister P.Chidambaram has stated a number of times that he would be willing to talk to the Naxals if they give up violence.  The response from the Naxals has been more violence and threats.

The latest spell of violence by them has been the killing of twenty policemen in Gadchiroli, in Maharashtra, near the border with Chattisgarh.  Following the arrest of their leaders Kobad Ghandy in Delhi and Chakradhar Mahato in West Bengal, they have called for repeated shutdowns bringing rail and road traffic in Bihar,  Jharkhand and Chattisgarh  to a near halt.

The Government of India rushed over 5,500 paramilitary personnel to Gadchiroli where elections were due on October 13.  Peace will return to Gadchiroli, but violence will erupt elsewhere in the vast rural belt of the country-- in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra and Karnataka where the Naxals are active.

Will the Central and State governments be able to contain the violence with the available police and paramilitary forces? The Naxals have made it clear that their objective is to take over power through violent revolution.

My mind goes back twenty years to 1989, when I was the Principal Information Officer of the Government of India. The impact of the proxy war, promoted by Pakistan, had started showing up in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Kashmir valley.

Militancy, supported from across the Line of Control, had spread in Srinagar and surrounding areas.   To put down the militancy, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi appointed General (retired) K. V. Krishna Rao as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.  After studying the situation, General Krishna Rao visited New Delhi to brief Rajiv Gandhi about the situation in the State.

I had served as the Defence Spokesman when General Krishna Rao was the Army Chief. He confided in me what transpired at the meeting that Rajiv Gandhi had taken with him and Home Minister Buta Singh.

After briefing the Prime Minister, General Rao had requested for three battalions of the Central Reserve Police to put down militancy.  Buta Singh said he could not spare paramilitary forces as they were required for the conduct of Parliamentary elections and suggested that General Krishna Rao may use the Army.

Krishna Rao said he would not like to use the Army in counter-insurgency operations against Indian citizens in the State.  Rajiv Gandhi then decided to postpone the operations till the 1989 Lok Sabha elections were over.

Rajiv Gandhi lost power in the elections and a National Front government headed by V.P.Singh succeeded the Congress.  The insurgency got a boost with the kidnapping of Rubiya Sayeed, the daughter of then Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The Army’s role then was restricted to ensure the defence of the State against foreign aggression.  It did not take long for the situation to deteriorate and ultimately the Army had to be called in to control the situation.  For nearly two decades, the Army – and the Rashtriya Rifles composed of officers and men of the Army – have been controlling the situation in the State.

In my long tenure as a communicator with the Government of India, I have seen the Army being used to put down uprisings against the State – in Nagaland ,  Mizoram, Punjab – during Operation Blue Star in 1984 – and in Assam and Manipur.

Source ANI

Srinagar: Union Home Minister. P. Chidambaram on Wednesday reiterated the government''s commitment to end militancy in Jammu and Kashmir through a unique solution.

Addressing the All India Editors Conference on Social and Infrastructure here, Chidambaram said the government is willing to talk to every section of political opinion in the state.

"There is no place for violence in the state despite differences in political outlook. The unique solution will be found out recognising the unique history and geographical location of Jammu and Kashmir. The dialogue will not be in full media glare. It will be a quiet dialogue," he added.

He said the solution, on which the government is working, would be honorable, equitable and acceptable to the vast majority of the people in the state.

Elaborating on the Prime Minister''s comprehensive economic reconstruction plan worth 25,000 crore rupees, he said, close monitoring will be done for its effective implementation.

"Secretaries from Government of India will visit the state from next month to oversee the implementation of the package in the areas like agriculture, health, education, tourism and employment generating industries," he added.

Source ANI

Dehradun: A special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three policemen on Wednesday who were allegedly involved in the fake encounter killing of MBA student Ranbir Pal in Dehradun in July.

The SIT team arrested Sub Inspector G D Bhatt and two other policemen and is yet to file a chargesheet against them.

Twenty-two -year-old Ranbir, an MBA student, who was also working for a private bank, was shot dead by Dehradun Police on July 3 in the Ladpur jungles.

The arrests took place even as Dehradun was placed on high alert in view of President Pratibha Patel''s visit for a day.

Uttaranchal Police claim Ranbir was shot dead in an encounter after he fled with a sub-inspector’s service revolver.

The state government ordered a CBI inquiry after Ranbir’s family alleged that the encounter was a fake.

According to the autopsy report, Ranbir’s body had 12 bullet marks and 27 other injures.

The SIT did not find any criminal record against Ranbir during their investigations.

Source ANI

Srinagar: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday warned Pakistan to halt the increase in infiltration across the border, saying not doing so would invite a telling response from Indian security forces.

Addressing the All India Editors Conference on Social and Infrastructure here, Chidambaram said: "A spurt in infiltration has been seen after the general elections and the number did rise in the last two to three months from PoK and Pakistan."

However, he said, that it is likely to come down during the winter.

Elaborating on the issue of infiltration, Chidambaram said that it was a major cause for increased violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

"A major cause of the continuing violence in Jammu and Kashmir is the cross border infiltration from the other side. Infiltrators are being trained and assisted by Pakistan," he said.

"Jammu and Kashmir is the most valuable state in the country and there is no space for problems in the state. The security situation in the valley has improved over the last few months but violence is still very much a reality. There is a need to find a solution for problems in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

He further said that though the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved, infiltration into the state still continues.

"All violence in Jammu and Kashmir is due to infiltration. The Indian government has zero tolerance for infiltration and infiltrators will be caught and dealt with severely," the Minister added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: A day after India and China sparred aggressively over the ownership status of Arunachal Pradesh, India said that China must cease activities in Pak-Occupied Kashmir.

In a response to a question on Pakistan- China projects in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), the official spokesperson of the government said: “We have seen the Xinhua report quoting the President of China as stating that China will continue to engage in projects with Pakistan inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir."

"Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947. The Chinese side is fully aware of India''''s position and our concerns about Chinese activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir."

"We hope that the Chinese side will take a long term view of the India-China relations, and cease such activities in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday reiterated that the State of Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.

The statement issued by a spokesman of the ministry shortly after China expressed "strong" dissastisfaction over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''''''''s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh for electioneering.

"The State of Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. The people of Arunachal Pradesh are citizens of India. They are proud participants in the mainstream of India''''''''s vibrant democracy. The Chinese side is well aware of this position of the Government of India," said the official spokesperson.

"It is well established practice in our democratic system that our leaders visit States where elections to Parliament and to the State Assemblies are taking place. The Government of India is deeply committed to ensuring the welfare of its own citizens across the length and breadth of our country," the official spokesperson added.

Expressing disappointment over the statement made by the official spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the official spokesperson said: "India and China have jointly agreed that the outstanding boundary question will be discussed by the special representatives appointed by the two Governments. We, therefore, express our disappointment and concern over the statement made by the official spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since this does not help the process of ongoing negotiations between the two Governments on the boundary question."

"India is committed to resolving outstanding differences with China in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner, while ensuring that such differences are not allowed to affect the positive development of bilateral relations. We hope that the Chinese side will similarly abide by this understanding," the official spokesperson added.

On the same day, China''''s Ambassador to India Zhang Yang met officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shortly after his government expressed "strong" dissastisfaction over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''''''''s visit to Arunachal Pradesh during electioneering.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu had said: "We demand the Indian side address China''''''''s serious concerns and not trigger disturbance in the disputed region so as to facilitate the healthy development of China-India relations."

"China is strongly dissatisfied with the visit to the disputed region by the Indian leader disregarding China''''''''s serious concerns," Mas added in a statement posted on the ministry''''''''s website.

He noted that China and India had "never officially settled" demarcation of their border, and China''''''''s stance on the eastern section of the China-India border was "consistent and clear-cut".

The Indian Government has all along indicated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and that the people of that state have a democratic right to elect a government of their choice.

Singh had toured and addressed an election rally in Arunachal Pradesh on October 3.

Recently, China had blocked a part of a loan to India from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for developmental projects in Arunachal Pradesh. China also protested a visit to the state last month by exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

India says China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq kms of Jammu and Kashmir. On the other hand, China accuses India of possessing some 90,000 sq km of Chinese territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh.

Singh had earlier visited Arunachal Pradesh on January 31 and February 1 and had then referred to it as "Our land of the rising sun" at a public rally, which was objected to by China.

China apparently saw it as India''''''''s assertion of its claim on Arunachal, which it claims is a "disputed territory".

Source ANI

Patna: Maoists blew up a tower of a private telecom firm and torched a truck in Bihar''s Sheohar District last night.

According to officials, around 45 to 50 Maoists blew up the Airtel tower at Brindaban Bazar and asked villagers to stay at home.

Around 45-50 ultras swooped on the Brindaban Bazar.

Earlier, the Maoists had ransacked the Banshipur Railway Station in Lakhisarai District. They torched a communication system in the railway cabin of the station.

They also took three railway employees, including station master hostage for a shot while.

The two-day shutdown in Bihar and Jharkhand was organized to protest a Central Government effort to put down the CPI (Maoists) movement.

Tight security arrangements have been made in Bihar and Jharkhand to avoid untoward incidents.

Maoists are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the State. Since Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, 614 civilians and 290 security personnel have been killed in Maoist related violence.

Source ANI

Srinagar: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will address the All India Editors Conference on Social and Infrastructure here today.

The conference was inaugurated by State Chief Minister Umar Abdullah on Tuesday. He stressed the need for broad based dialogue process to address political and security related issues.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Corporate Affairs Salman Khurshid also addressed the Conference.

Khurshid has said that the proposed Equal Opportunity Commission will change the political language of the country from zero sum game of majority minority to equal opportunity for all.

“Equal Opportunity Commission as suggested by Sachar Committee will use a system of incentive / disincentives for improving the diversity profile in both government and non-government sectors. It is a long drawn process but the thinking behind Equal Opportunity Commission is a significant step in the right direction,” the Minister added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The President of Argentina, Dr. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, will meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here today.

Later, Vice President Hamid Ansari, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will call on the visiting dignitary.

On Thursday, Kirchner will visit Agra and Mumbai.

Kirchner arrived here on a three-day state visit on Tuesday. She is being accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes the country''s Foreign Minister and a large business delegation.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner''s visit is being taking place during the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Argentina.

This is also the first Presidential visit from Argentina in 15 years. The last visit was by President Menem in 1994.

The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina was in 1995 by Late P.V. Narasimha Rao for the G-15 Summit.

Source ANI

Ranchi: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will arrive here on a two-day visit today.

During his tour, he will visit Sahibganj, Dumka, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh and Ranchi. He is scheduled to interact with Youth Congress workers, the NSUI and party leaders.

On Thursday, he will visit the Maoist strongholds of Chatra and Daltonganj. He will also visit Chaibasa and Jamshedpur.

The visit comes against the backdrop of the killing of a Jharkhand Special Branch police inspector Francis Induwar in the state recently.

On September 30, Maoists had kidnapped Induwar from Khunti district. It is believed that they wanted release of their two leaders Kobad Ghandy and Chatrodhar Mahato, arrested by law enforcement authorities in New Delhi and West Bengal respectively earlier in September.

Induwar’s body was found on the Jamshedpur-Ranchi Highway on October 6. It was then reported that a note had been found that warned the government that they could expect more of the same treatment if their demands were not acceded to.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Visiting Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met Vice President Hamid Ansari, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani in the national capital on Wednesday.

Kirchner is in India on a three-day visit to enhance bilateral relations and trade between the two countries. She is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes the country''s Foreign Minister and a large business delegation.

She had earlier in the day met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan, and held talks over political issues between the two countries.

“Within this new international scenario and after the meeting that I held today with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, we are facing a re-launch of not only a new trade and economic relationship, but also mainly a political one between both the countries,” Kirchner said.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner''s visit is being taking place during the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Argentina.

This is also the first Presidential visit from Argentina in 15 years. The last visit was by President Menem in 1994.

The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina was in 1995 by Late P.V. Narasimha Rao for the G-15 Summit.

On Thursday, Kirchner will visit Agra and Mumbai.

Source ANI

Ranchi: People residing in Silli Block in Ranchi are a worried lot after a 200-feet high hillock in Jumla mountains range caved in on Wednesday.

The effect of the hillock crashing was so intense that the debris has spread over an area of one kilometre.

“It made a thundering noise at night when it (the rock) caved in and we noticed it only in the morning. We saw the whole rock and now we are praying to avoid further catastrophes,” said Ram Singh Munda, a villager.

However, an expert geologist Nitish Priyadarshi, who also happens to be a member of Geological Society of India, said that the incident was not natural and blamed coal mining being carried out in the region for the catastrophe.

“What we can assume is that there is a danger of land subsidence as there are coal mines under the surface. Due to the topographical stress developed in the region, a mountain which must have highly weathered caved in and there is a danger that other such hillocks in the region may also suffer the same fate,” Nitish Priyadarshi said.

He also said that excessive and massive mining activities could also lead to earthquakes.

Source ANI

Kolkata: U.S. Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer, on Wednesday said that the tension between India and China over border dispute is an internal issue of both the countries and emphasized that it should be resolved by the two neighbours through bilateral talks.

Roemer said this while addressing the media at the American Centre in Kolkata during her maiden visit to West Bengal.

Reacting to the exchange of conflicting statements between the two counties in recent months, Roemer said: “The issue between China and India is a bilateral issue. And it''''s one that United States is confident will be resolved peacefully.

Roemer also discussed about Pakistan’s inaction against those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and reiterated United States'''' stance to punish the perpetrators.

“It''''s very important that Pakistan successfully prosecute the seven Mumbai attack suspects. They should continue to take the facts and the evidence on Hafiz Saeed and prosecute him. And that we continue to see is progress in dismantling the infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Taiba,” Roemer said.

Earlier on Monday, a Pakistani court had quashed two cases against Saeed, whom India accuses of masterminding last year''''s Mumbai terror attacks, but he remains under virtual house-arrest.

Source ANI

New Delhi: U.S Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William J. Burns, will arrive in India on Thursday for talks on promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.

His trip is seen as a preliminary preparation for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington in November as the Obama administration''s first state guest.

Burns is also likely to get New Delhi’s feedback on the recent bomb attack outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, which claimed 17 lives and injured over 60.

Officials in India are also likely to acquire a perspective on Washington’s altered strategy on Afghanistan.

It may be recalled that New Delhi has voiced concern over Washington’s apparent shift in policy towards tackling the Taliban.

The policy reportedly focuses on diverting US military’s focus from eliminating Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan to Al-Qaeda bases within Pakistan.

During his visit, Burns will meet with senior government officials and private sector leaders to discuss a broad agenda to further strengthen Indo-American partnership.

Burns is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

Issues like situation in Pakistan-Afghanistan region, 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and non-proliferation are likely to be discussed during the meeting.

The Indian side may also discuss Pakistan’s move to not to prosecute Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed for two cases that had been registered against him.

The Indian Government is expected to convey its disappointment over Pakistan’s inaction against those responsible for the 26/11 attacks.

Source ANI

Mumbai: Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Wednesday held a meeting with Air India management and staff unions in Mumbai to analyze the national carrier’s rationalization and turnaround plans.

While addressing the media after the meet, Patel said that the Government would introduce a series of methods for cost cutting and to increase profits.

“We have reviewed the functioning of Air India, we met unions and explained government plans to turn the airline around. One of the steps would be the induction of equity and the another major step would be restructuring high cost debt to low cost debt,” Praful Patel said.

Patel further said that Air India would retire the large fleet of leased aircrafts to replace them with new ones, and would try to capitalize on the booming aviation industry.

“Air traffic has improved over the last six months and overall the market scenario has witnessed improvement in the last month or two and that does send out a signal of cautious optimism that aviation industry would lead to a road to recovery though it may not be as thick as we witnessed a few years ago,” he added.

The Minister also said that all the Air India employees have shown a lot of understanding over the salary related issues, which had resulted in a four-day strike last month.

“Air India employees have shown a lot of understanding. It seems management and unions can forge an understanding for the way forward,” Patel said.

Source ANI

Dumariya forest region (Bihar): A Maoist leader has said that the rebel group is ready to face the police forces in Bihar and in other parts of the country.

"The forces which are being brought in to suppress villagers like Cobra (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) battalion and other specialised forces we are ready to face them…we have formed PLGA (Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) and we have deployed it to face security forces," Amarjit, a Maoist leader told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting.

Earlier on Tuesday, the rebels held a meeting in the dense forest region.

They burnt effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram.

Bihar is one of the six Indian states badly affected by Maoist rebellion. The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) had given a call for two-day shutdown on Monday (October 12) in Bihar and Jharkhand state.

Suspected rebels also blew up railway tracks and towers of mobile phone companies during shutdown.

Maoists have ignored repeated calls to renounce violence and negotiate across the table. So much so, they have stepped up their attacks in recent past months, prompting the government to go after them in a concerted strike.

The timing of the government offensive is not yet known but is expected to be executed later this month.

Apart from addressing a massive security issue, the government has plans to free mineral-rich areas worth billion of dollars now under the control of rebels.

India is battling Maoists across eastern, central and southern India, an insurgency that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as the biggest internal security challenge since independence.

Maoists have formally been labelled as a terrorist group by India''s federal government, which gives security forces more enforcement powers.

However, some experts say the ban has not had much impact so far in the battle against thousands of Maoists.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The commissioner of the Delhi Service Tax Commissionerate, R D Negi said here on Wednesday that the launching of the Automation of Central Excise and Service Tax (ACES) would help to enhance the accountability and accuracy of the department besides helping the trade community in terms of saving cost and time.
 
Speaking to ANI after the launch of ACES in Delhi Negi said: “ACES would help the trade community at large, as well help the department to enhance its accountability and accuracy. With the launch of the new system the trade community would save both time and cost.”
 
“ Now, it’s an era of the Internet, where people communicate electronically and online, so ACES is a step towards achieving that,” Negi added.
 
ACES is a new centralised and web based software application of the Central Board of Excise and Customs that is now available to service tax assessees.
 
Special Secretary S K Goel said: “ ACES offers various online facilities and services such as registration, filling of service tax returns, refund claims, filing of intimations, tracking, dispute resolutions and online viewing of records.”
 
With its launch in Delhi, ACES will now be available in seven service tax commissionerates out of the 27 in the country.
 
ACES will replace the existing applications of SERMON, SACER, SAPS, STERM, used in central excise and service tax for capturing returns and registration details of assessees.
 
To transact business on ACES, a user has to first register with ACES through a process called registration, which is not a statutory registration. It helps the application in recognising bonafide users.
 
The ACES application is designed to accept digitally signed documents. In the beginning, however, this functionality will not be activated.
 
To assist taxpayers, the Directorate of Systems has developed a learning management software (LMS), which is available on the website www.aces.gov.in which describes the facility in detail.

Source ANI

New Delhi: A day after China objected to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh''s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal P K Barbora said Beijing should not interfere in Indian affairs.

"So it is again I repeat here, nothing to do with raising tension, I haven''t said anything about Chinese having constructed any airfields on their side in Tibet area. No, I don''t think they should say anything about our construction or improvement in infrastructure in the northeast or in the Ladakh area," Air Marshal Barbora said here on the sidelines of a function to launch the India-Oman air force exercises.

Air Marshal Barbora also downplayed Beijing''s comment''s on Prime Minister Singh''s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

"I don''t know why the Chinese are talking about our prime minister''s visit to Pasighat, which took place I think about a week or 10 days back. But they did not say anything when our President visited Tawang...The President is the head of the armed forces, so you can read between the lines if you want to," he said.

Beijing said on Tuesday it was "seriously dissatisfied" by Singh''s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

China''s foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu had accused India of ignoring China''s concerns by visiting Arunachal Pradesh.

Prime Minister Singh travelled to the mountainous state, twice the size of Switzerland, earlier this month to woo voters ahead of Tuesday''s state assembly election.

Beijing lays claim to 90,000 sq km of land in the border state, that it sees as "southern" Tibet and had already expressed its anger about a planned visit by the Dalai Lama in November.

India''s foreign ministry said its leaders were free to visit states where elections are held. The ministry said in a statement that New Delhi was "disappointed and concerned" about China''s stance.

India and China fought a brief but bloody border war, partly over Arunachal Pradesh, in 1962, and while trade between the two has since flourished, the border disputes have never been resolved.

Mistrust remains close below the surface and appears to have resurfaced in recent months.

There has been a flurry of reports in Indian media of Chinese incursions along the border -- shrugged off by both governments -- and Delhi this month protested against a Chinese embassy policy of issuing different visas to residents of disputed Kashmir.

China also protested against the Dalai Lama''s trip to Arunachal Pradesh. It reviles the Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist and said the trip was further proof of his scheming.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who is presently on a visit to India, has termed his interaction with Indian leaders and other officials as fruitful, and said he was looking forward to his visit to Mumbai.

Smith will leave for Mumbai on Thursday.

While in Mumbai, Smith will pay homage to scores of people who die in terror attack on November 26 last year. There were two Australian nationals among the over 166 dead.

"I have had a very good series of meetings in New Delhi. I''m now off to Mumbai. So, looking very much forward to going to Mumbai to speak to Australian and Indian business community. And, also to commemorate the tragic deaths that we saw in the terror attacks in Mumbai... Two Australians of course died. I had a very good conversation with the minister (India''s Home (interior) Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram) and I had a very productive couple of days in Delhi," Smith said.

Smith had arrived in India on October 12 on a five-day visit.

Earlier in the day, Smith reviewed the progress of various facilities for the Commonwealth Games, which will be staged in New Delhi in 2010.

He expressed his satisfaction over the work achieved so far.

The two countries are expected to increase commercial ties and cooperation in defence and issues of counter-terrorism and climate change.

Source ANI

Wagah: A team of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers participated in a DIG-level meeting at the Wagah joint check post on the Pakistan side on Wednesday.

Mohammad Akil, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Border Security Force led the 11-member Indian team, while Brigadier Shifakat Ali Khan-headed the Pakistan Rangers’ team at the meeting.

According to Akil, the meeting was part of a mutually agreed programme aimed at evaluating measures for managing border duties.

During the meeting, the Indian delegation raised the issue of recent lobbying of rockets into Indian territory from across the border.

The Pakistani team denied their hand in the incident.

The Indian authorities, however, registered their protest with Pakistan and told the Pakistani authorities to take adequate steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

Issues relating to inadvertent border crossing, smuggling of contraband items, simultaneous co-ordinated patrolling along the International Border were also discussed at the meeting.

The issue of Indian and Pakistani prisoners was also discussed.

Source ANI

Amritsar: After being duped by travel agents, ten Punjabi youngsters managed to return to their homes here from Iran after a year long traumatic experience.

Eight youngsters from Kotla Gujjran and two hailing from Bhangwan village in Amritsar had been allegedly taken to Iran a year ago by the travel agent, who had assured them of better opportunities and a year''s work permit in Iran.

Their dreams of a trip to El Dorado and making it big were devastated once they learnt that they had to work for a construction company and that too as labourers without salary.

"The travel agent had taken one lakh rupees (2172 US dollars) on the pretext of taking us to Iran with an agreement of job for two years. On reaching Jalandhar, we were issued passports with a stamp of one month of tourist visa. On confronting the agent they said that everything was all right and that our visas had been extended. But on reaching Iran we found out that our visas were not extended and we had to face a lot problems over there," said Gurmeet Singh, a victim.

Further he mentioned that they were not given proper food and were almost treated like animals, forced to work from dawn to late hours in the night.

They were allegedly threatened that they would be sent to Pakistani jails if they dared to reveal to officials or any outsider about their situation.

The group of youngsters were sent on Iran on 17th December 2008 and remained in despair for months. They were released only after the intervention of the foreign ministry and the Punjab Government.

"As per a directive of Punjab Government, any travel agent who tries to pamper and exploit any youth in the name of giving him a job abroad will be punished," said Bikram Singh Majitha, a functionary of Akali Dal, Amritsar.

He also added to say that their woes had doubled due to turbulence in Iran after the presidential polls, as the administration got suspicious about the foreign nationals residing in Iran.

Source ANI