Antony nixes expansion of India-US Malabar naval exercise
NEW DELHI, Sept 24: The defence ministry has decided against expanding the India-US Malabar naval exercise after its 2007 multilateral edition was marred by controversy due to criticism by the Left parties. Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday said this year's Malabar war game Oct 15-24 will be a purely bilateral exercise with the US Navy off the country's western seaboard.
“Only last year was Malabar a multilateral exercise. It invited a lot of criticism. Now there will be no multilateral element and it will remain an India-US bilateral exercise,” Antony told reporters here.
Last year, the Malabar exercise saw five countries - India, the US, Australia, Japan and Singapore - taking part. The event, however, was marred by controversy with the Left parties that at the time supported Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government from the outside vehemently protesting the drill and seeing it as yet another sign of the growing closeness between New Delhi and Washington.
The ministry's decision comes even as the Indian Navy has been pushing for multilateral war games as this saves on resources and on the time taken to prepare for each exercise. “We would want to participate with as many nations as possible as it is economical in terms of our resources and time. This time, the exercise is going to be a low key affair with only one aircraft carrier of the US Navy participating as our carrier INS Virat is undergoing a refit,” a senior naval official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The US Navy will be fielding the nuclear powered carrier USS Ronald Reagan, nuclear powered submarine USS Springfield - sans its ballistic missiles - guided-missile frigate USS Thach, guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley and USS Decatur and guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville. The USS Ronald Reagan, the US navy's newest Nimitz-class carrier, has set out to sea from Japan and will reach India's west coast after calls at a few ports en route. The Indian Navy will be fielding a Shishumar class submarine, frigates INS Talwar, INS Godavari, INS Brahmaputra and INS Betwa, and fleet tanker INS Aditya.
The exercise will involve anti-submarine operations, submarine-to-submarine operations, flying operations and cross-deck embarkation. The drill will also involve alternating command and control, with the Indian fleet commander take over the command of the US fleet and vice versa. (IANS)
Khairlanji Dalit murders: 6 get death sentence; lifer for 2
BHANDARA, Sept 24: Two years after four members of a Dalit family were brutally murdered at Khairlanji village in Maharashtra, a court here today sentenced six convicts to death in the case that had triggered violent protests across the state.Two others were sent to life in jail by Sessions Court here. In all, 11 people were named accused in the case probed by the CBI. Three of them were acquitted for lack of evidence.
On September 15 last, Judge S S Dass convicted the remaining eight accused, but acquitted them of charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The acquittal under the ST/SC Act drew strong reactions from Dalit organisations which demanded a re-trial. But today’s sentences “send out a clear signal that courts award stringent punishment in such cases”, said CBI’s Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. “I am very happy...It will restore harmony in society,” said Nikam, who was also a public prosecutor in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
Those given the capital punishment are Sakru Binjewar,Shatrughna Dhande,Vishwanath Dhande, Ramu Dhande, Jagdish Mandlekar and Prabhakar Mandlekar. Gopal Binjewar and Shishupal Vishwanath Dhande got life sentences. On September 29, 2006, four Dalits - Surekha Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, her daughter Priyanka and sons Sudhir and Roshan - were beaten to death over a land dispute in Khairlanji. The brutality of the act had sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, and led to violent protests.
The case was handed over to the CBI after the Bhandara Police arrested 11 persons in connection with the murders. Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, the lone survivor of the family, said he was “satisfied” with the sentences. The court had acquitted three persons — MahipalDhande, Dharampal Dhande and Jagdish Titarmare. Defence lawyers said they will file an appeal against the sentences in the High Court. (PTI)
Former heroines slam Chiranjeevi’s political ambitions
HYDERABAD, Sept 24: Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi and his newly-launched political party Praja Rajyam has come under attack by none other than two of his erstwhile leading ladies.
Actress Vijayashanti, who heads a party that espouses the cause of a separate Telengana state, said Chiranjeevi's political moves were just “pretensions”, local media reported Wednesday. “Chiranjeevi's political achievements are cardboard cutouts when compared to those of mine. Even in cinema, it was I who established new trends. While I am the real champion of the Telengana cause, Chiranjeevi is merely pretending to shed crocodile tears in our name,” Vijayashanti said in a statement.
In her acting career, Vijayashanti has played Chiranjeevi's leading lady on 18 occasions - the highest for any actress. She now heads a party called Talli (mother) Telengana. Another yesteryears' heroine, Roja Selvamani, also came out against the popular star at a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) youth rally here. “Gullible crowds are being taken in by Chiranjeevi, who claims credit for health centres built on lands and doles donated by my leader (Chandra Babu) Naidu and claims blood contributed by the poor as his own,” Roja alleged.
The former multilingual actress, who has done many Tamil films also, has starred opposite Chiranjeevi in two Telugu films. Workers of Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam, miffed at their leader coming under attack, carried out mock "exorcising rituals" against the two actresses in Medak district, offering sliced lemons, vermillion and broken pumpkins to their photographs. “The actresses have lost their wits due to the influence of devils that are egging them on against the future of Telugu pride. The powers of angels and spirits invoked by us will cure them through their pictures," said Peddaramaiah, a die-hard Chiranjeevi fan.
Chiranjeevi, who has acted in around 150 movies in his three-decade-long career, entered politics last month by launching Praja Rajyam. The 55-year-old is yet to react to the allegations of his former co-stars. (IANS)
Government taking steps to rescue abducted Indian crew: Antony
NEW DELHI, SEPT 24: India today said it would soon find a “solution” and take all steps to rescue the Indian crew on board a merchant vessel that was abducted in the African waters recently.
“The government is concerned of the recent hijack of a merchant vessel with Indian crew on board and is consulting with its ministries on finding a solution and to rescue the abducted crew members from the pirates,” Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters on the sidelines of Coast Guard commanders conference here.
With Gulf of Aden turning into a sea pirates’ den, India also virtually gave up the option of “joint patrolling” in African waters along side other Navies as “incidents keep happening there” despite major powers such as US’ and France’s continuous presence. “At the moment there is no such proposal (for joint patrolling). Major naval powers such as US, France, UK and Canada are already carrying out joint patrolling there (African coast). Despite their presence, these incidents (of hijacking) are happening,” Antony said.
In the last two months, 27 ships have been hijacked by pirates and the ship crew taken hostage with demands of huge money as ransom for their release. The latest incident happened about 10 days ago when a merchant oil tanker with 18 Indian crew members on board was abducted by pirates.
Asked about Indian plans to rescue the abducted crew members of Panama-owned MV Stolt Valor, Antony assured that the government would do whatever was possible to rescue the Indian sailors.
“That part of the ocean, particularly Gulf of Aden, is a dangerous place now. Despite patrolling by major countries and players, this kind of piracy is still taking place. UN itself has taken the issue of piracy seriously,” Antony said. Pointing out that India had no agreement with the present government in Somalia for entering its waters to interdict a pirated ship, the minister said the hijacked ship, Stolt Valor, was currently in a Somalian port and the Indian government was consulting all the ministries concerned on finding a solution to the issue. “We (the government) are trying our best what we can do at the present circumstances,” he added.
Asked about a recent UN resolution on world navies giving pirated ships a chase in Somalian waters, the Minister said: “We have to handle these issues carefully. We can act only as per (international) law. It is a matter of serious concern and it is the right time to take concerted action against piracy.” (PTI)
Army called out in UP districts for flood relief
LUCKNOW, Sept 24: Army has been requisitioned in flood-hit Barabanki and Gonda district for relief operations today even as the overall situation in 24 districts of Uttar Pradesh remained grim.
The breach in Sukera Bhikhari Dam in Gonda district has left several vilages under water, while there were reports of Ramganga swelling to dangerous limits in Shahajahanpur district from where the demand of motorboat has reached the district administration.
The flood situation was grim in the state following release of a large quantity of water from the barrages of Nepal, Uttarakhand and Haryana. The recent release of five lakh cusecs water from neighbouring Nepal has swamped as many as 50 villages in Barabanki district while in Gonda many vilages are innundated.
One column each of Army personnel had been sent to Barabanki and Gonda for relief and rescue operations, the UP Principal Secretary of Revenue department Balvinder Kumar said.
Reports from Barabanki district say a large population residing in nearby 300 villages were affected after the excess water of river Ghagra crept into their houses. The flood situation was so critical that the denizens have climbed on trees and roof tops for shelter.Taking in note the disaster, the district administration deployed Armymen for rescue and relief works.Behraich-Lucknow route also remained affected for the second day today. Colenlganj and Tarabganj tehsils of Gonda were severly hit by the flood and the administration has ordered evacuation of 100 villages, besides demanding help of the Army.
A total of 26.26 lakh of population had so far been affected by flood as the latest reports of further damage were still pouring in, UP Relief Commissioner G K Tandon said. As much as 4.22 hectares of cultivated land had been covered by water, while 3.70 lakh of houses were fully or partialy damaged, he said. Over 2,900 houses were damaged in bad weather, while one person fell prey to it in the last 24 hrs in Gonda where the swelled Ghagra and Saryu rivers have caused breachment in two of the four dams.
Besides, Gonda-Melani rail route and Gonda-Lucknow road route were also affected.In Basti, the deluge water has affected nearby 200 villages and submerged 70 others. The turbulent Ghagra was posing pressure on B D Dam and Kalvari-Saifabad dam.According to official sources, the administration has asked evacuation of 75 villages. Three platoons PAC have been called for rescue and relief operations in the district.
According to Central Water Commission, river Sharda was 68 cm above the danger level in Paliyakala (Lakhimpur Kheri), while was 79 cm above the level in Shardanagar (Lakhimpur Kheri).The Ghagra was overflowing by 137 cm and 24 cm respectively in Elginbridge (Barabanki) and Turtipar (Ballia).The Saryu was 101 cm above the red mark in Ayodhya, while Ramganga was recorded just three cm above the danger mark in Dabri (Shahjahanpur). (UNI)
Strong response for Kahaani Hamaaray Mahabharat ki:Ekta
NEW DELHI, Sept 24: Her version of the epic Mahabharta Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabharat Ki may have drawn flak from several quarters with critics lashing out at the series for its lackluster performances and poor production value but the ‘Queen of Soaps’ believes that it is a highly rated show on the small screen.
“It has been a highly rated show on the 9X General Entertainment channel. More interestingly, it has got a very strong response across the country and we have started its Tamil version on September 15 on Raj TV. With its launch in many languages, I feel that we are creating a very strong audience base”, Ekta said. Addressing a press meet in the Capital this weekend, Ekta Kapoor said the show had also been creating waves in abroad.
Informing that the turn point in the epic TV series would begin shortly with October 1 seeing ‘Kauravas’ and ‘Pandavas’ attaining adulthood. “From October 1, the Pandavas and Kauravas will be seen as adults and no longer as adolescents. The turn point in the series starts now with ‘Kansa vadh’ (killing of Kansa by Krishna), the Krishna-Radha separation and, of course, the mighty Pandavas coming into adulthood. Actually, the real story begins from now on”, Ekta said.
On a deluge of criticism from media circles and critics, she said, ‘’I think its too early and unfair for anybody to pass a judgement on the show so soon. We have just had 45 episodes. The earlier ‘Mahabharata’, made by B R Chopra, had 108 episodes. Let us first reach that point and then one can make any judgement about its merits.’’ At the same time, she dismissed claims that the show was evoking a poor response.
“The series has evoked a lot of curiosity for its brilliant special effects and identifiable characters. In fact, there is a huge number of viewers who have not seen B R Chopra’s ‘Mahabharat’ but after watching ‘Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabharat Ki’ developed a curiosity about the earlier Mahabharat”, the queen of soaps said.
She said it was a challenge for her to ensure that ‘Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabharat Ki’ was able to establish a niche for itself among the audience.
She said, “ Making Kahaani.. was a very bold vision and we have been making all efforts to translate our vision on the small screen. It is a challenge for us to ensure that our show establishes a niche for itself among the TV viewers.’’ “For example, before starting the series, I carried out extensive research along with my team wherein I studied various written texts on the epic, all of which told the story of the battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas from a different perspective”. Further, an elaborate set was constructed for shooting of the series, which also boasts of an extensive use of special effects.“
Making the series has been an exciting journey firstly because it was the first time I was dabbling with special effects and secondly with an epic of such huge proportions”, Ekta said.
Incidentally, the series is being aired in the United Kingdom from Monday. (UNI).
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