'India, US have narrowed their differences on nuke deal'

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) India and the US have narrowed their differences over the proposed civil nuclear deal after three days of talks here and the two sides will meet soon to thrash out pending issues, officials said Thursday.

"The two negotiating teams held intensive discussions over three days here and were able to narrow their differences on a number of draft provisions of the proposed agreement," external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.

"Officials of the two sides have a much better appreciation of their respective legal, political positions," he said, referring to the talks on a proposed Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, also called the 123 Agreement.

"Pending issues will now require internal consultations on both sides with a view to jointly formulating a draft, which meets with the approvals of both sides," Sarna said.

"The progress we have achieved so far makes us confident that we would be able to arrive at a text that conforms to our well-known positions."

The Indian side at the three-day talks was headed by Joint Secretary (America) S. Jaishankar and included officials from the Department of Atomic Energy that is under the direct charge of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The three-member US side was led by Richard J.K. Stratford, director, Office of Nuclear Energy Affairs at the US State Department. It included officials from the Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

According to Sarna, the officials also discussed the draft agreements exchanged in London last month when India's Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran met with US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns.

"This would enable the two sides to conclude the proposed 123 Agreement once the US Congress has passed appropriate legislation to enable a full civilian nuclear energy cooperation between India and the US," he said.

India and the US had pledged to cooperate in civilian nuclear energy in a joint statement after a meeting in Washington in July last year between US President George W. Bush and Manmohan Singh.

This intent was formalised during Bush's visit to New Delhi in March and plans were worked out for separating India's civil and military nuclear facilities.

The proposed pact on which talks were held this week gets its name from Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which requires a bilateral cooperation pact to be signed first before a broad nuclear deal with another country.

15-plus population will contribute to economy: Kamal Nath

Tokyo, June 15 (DPA) India expects about 60 percent of its one billion-plus population above 15 years of age to contribute to regional economic growth when they become consumers and spenders, said India's Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

He was speaking at the World Economic Forum on East Asia, which opened a two-day meeting in Tokyo Thursday to promote integration of the regional economies.

More than 300 politicians, academics and business leaders have gathered from 27 Asian nations to discuss various issues such as regional economy, energy policy and technology.

"Asian countries' mutual dependency in trade has increased much and now almost matches that of European Union members," said Junichi Ujiie, chairman at Nomura Holdings Inc of Japan and one of the co-chairs of the forum.

"Any integration in the region seems to be no longer just an idea, but based on reality."

While its neighbouring nations are considered as emerging markets, Japan with its economic recovery plans to propose a new initiative to promote free circulation within the region, said Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai.

In the forum's opening speech, Nikai introduced Japan's plan to set up a fund to accept 2,000 students and corporate interns every year from other Asian nations.

The World Economic Forum on East Asia, which Japan hosted for the first time, came in partnership with the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, an influential business lobby that marks the 60th anniversary of its establishment this year.

--DPA

A code of conduct for BJP-ruled states

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has put in place a new code of conduct for states ruled by it to ensure that party cadres have enough say in government affairs and do not feel alienated.

As part of this exercise, the party Thursday held the first meeting of the state coordination committee of Chhattisgarh in the presence of the BJP's top brass where informal guidelines were laid down for the government and the party apparatus in the state.

"The schedule of meetings for coordination committees of other BJP-ruled states is being finalised and they are likely to be held soon," a senior BJP leader told IANS.

"We expect other states also to follow the guidelines which emerged out of today's meeting. This is to ensure that workers at the grass-roots level do not get alienated as this has proved to be a major stumbling block in the party's efforts to retain power at the centre and in some states in the past."

Party chief Rajnath Singh made it clear in the meeting that the governments in BJP-ruled states would have to work to suit the aspirations of party workers.

"They should be satisfied with the government's work," Singh told Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and two of his cabinet colleagues.

"The workers should inform the people about the work done by the government while apprising the government about the aspirations and expectations of people," the BJP chief said.

The third important rule was spelt out by party veteran and former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani, who suggested that during assembly sessions the state legislative party should meet at least once a week following the example of BJP's central parliamentary party.

BJP ministers have also been asked to visit local level party offices whenever they go for an official visit in any part of the state.

The meeting was attended by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former defence minister Jaswant Singh and party vice president Venkaiah Naidu among others.

Apollo doctors, staff questioned in Rahul Mahajan case

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Delhi Police Thursday questioned three doctors and three medical staff members of the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here in connection with the Rahul Mahajan drug abuse case.

The police suspect the doctors and officials, under whose care the son of late Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan was, had withheld some vital information related to the case.

The police said they would question some more doctors and staff of the hospital in the next few days.

Earlier, the police had questioned eight senior staff members of the hospital, including medical director Anupam Sibal.

"We have a list of 150 doctors and office staff who had attended to Rahul during his stay in the hospital, and will question each one of them to find out the truth," said a senior investigating official.

The police had registered a case against the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital June 9 on charges of providing false information about the case.

The case was registered in the Sarita Vihar police station in south Delhi.

Rahul was admitted to the hospital early June 2 in a critical condition following a drink-and-drug party the previous night.

While the hospital had initially said that the toxic screen test revealed no trace of any narcotics in Rahul's blood and urine samples, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory found traces of illegal drugs like heroine and cocaine in them.

Declassification law on official documents needs review, says committee

By Murali Krishnan,

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) The recommendation of a government-appointed committee on declassification of public documents has again thrown up the question as to how long documents of national interest can be kept under wraps. The Veerappa Moily Commission, which submitted its first report on administrative reforms earlier this week, has urged the government to review its decision of keeping official documents classified after a period of 30 years.

"In other countries even war secrets are brought into the public domain after a lapse of a specified period, usually 30 years. It is therefore necessary to review such classified documents after a reasonable period of, say, 30 years," the report says.

"Those which do not merit classification should then be declassified and kept in the public domain."

For years, research scholars, academics and journalists have been campaigning for making public the Henderson Brooks Report on the Indian Army's reverses in the 1962 war with China. Nearly four decades after the event, the government says the report is classified and that it is not in the "public interest" to disclose its contents.

Lt. Gen. Henderson Brooks - who died in 1997 in Sydney - had been asked to go through the official records and prepare a report on what went wrong in the war. In 1963, he presented his study to then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and a couple of his ministers.

Forty-three years later, nobody has seen the report that lies buried in the government archives. Some experts have managed to piece together the contents of the report, including veteran British journalist Neville Maxwell.

Of the five wars India has fought since independence, official accounts of only the first (Kashmir 1948) and the last (Kargil 1999) are made available to the public. Official military histories of the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars exist, but successive governments, obsessed with secrecy, have refused to make them public.

"But with this report submitted, we hope the government takes into consideration our views and acts," said a member of the Moily commission.

Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah told IANS that if war documents did not fall into a security classification, then there was no purpose of holding it back.

"I have not read Moily's report, but as a citizen I would like to know what is in the report if it does not merit classification," he said.

Moily's report further goes on to say that "the task of classifying a document is vital in the larger national interest and should be handled with great caution, as any security classification denies access of information to the public".

He also argues that the hierarchy of security classification needs to be rationalised, reflecting the scheme of exemptions under the Right to Information Act and emerging challenges.

During his six-year stint in the Rajya Sabha, columnist Kuldip Nayar had requested the government many times to publish the Henderson Brooks report, but he was constantly told it was not in the "public interest".

Nayyar had argued that democratic governments like the US and Britain took pride in the fact that they make top secret papers public even before the stipulated 30 years.

"The wrongs of the Vietnam War would not have come to light if the American government had taken shelter behind the exigencies of public interest," he said.

Doctors separate 10-month-old conjoined twins

Los Angeles, June 15 (DPA) Surgeons successfully separated 10-month-old conjoined twins, who have two legs each but share many vital organs, after a mammoth operation at Los Angeles' Children's Hospital, news reports said.

The conjoined twins, whose breastbones, livers, intestines and pelvises were fused, were separated midway through the operation late Wednesday. A second operation to reconstruct the girls' chests, organs, pelvises and body walls is on. It could last 24 hours.

Regina and Renata Salinas Fierros were born Aug 2, 2005. Their parents, Sonia and Federico Salinas, were visiting relatives during the pregnancy last year when it was determined that the twins were conjoined. The Salinases decided to stay in the US to deliver the babies.

About 80 doctors and staff members were involved in the operation.

In the last 40 years five pairs of conjoined twins have undergone separation surgery at Los Angeles' Children's Hospital. In three cases both children survived.

--DPA

Ecuador beat Costa Rica 3-0 to make last 16 at World Cup

Hamburg, June 15 (Xinhua) Ecuador beat Costa Rica 3-0 Thursday in their second match in Group A at the World Cup, entering the knock-out stage of the tournament together with hosts Germany.

Striker Carlos Tenorio scored the opener only in the 8th minute into the game as he knocked the ball into the net off a cross from midfielder Luis Valencia.

The Ecuadorans continued their attacks after the break and Agustin Delgado scored the second in 54th minute, leaving the Costa Ricans dumbfounded.

Ivan Kaviedes kicked the ball into the net after midfielder Edison Mendez found him in the penalty box in the injury time.

Both Delgado and Tenorio scored apiece when playing against Poland on June 9.

Throughout the match, the Ecuadorans leashed continuous attacks on the Costa Ricans, forcing goalkeeper Jose Porras to either dive or par off many a threats.

Their attacks were forceful and their defence stable, leaving few chances for the Costa Ricans to strike the ball into the box.

Earlier Ecuador defeated Poland 2-0 in their first game in this World Cup.

England labour to beat Trinidad and Tobago

Nuremberg, June 15 (Xinhua) England qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup after labouring to beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0, thanks to two late goals from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard in their Group B match at the Franken Stadion here Thursday.

Crouch, the 1.98 m tall Liverpool striker, broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute, jumping high above Trinidad and Tobago defender Brent Sancho to head home captain David Beckham's cross from the right.

Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 in the final minute when Frank Lampard won a free kick and took it quickly to put England on the attack.

Gerrard unleashed an unstoppable left-foot shot from outside the penalty area on the right that left goalkeeper Shaka Hislop with no chance.

With a group game to spare against Sweden, and following Ecuador's win over Costa Rica earlier in the day in Group A, England will face either hosts Germany or Ecuador in the knockout stage.

England got more and more frustrated as they found it hard to put the ball into the Trinidad and Tobago net. They missed several chances though they dominated the match from the start.

Their best chance came in the 44th minute, when Beckham sent a perfect cross for the unmarked Crouch. But he volleyed the cross well wide with nobody near him.

England survived a scare in the injury time of the first half, with John Terry scooping a volley off the line after Carlos Edwards had beat England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to a cross and Stern John raced in looking to keep the ball over the line.

Wayne Rooney, who missed the first game due to a foot injury, was finally sent on in the place of Michael Owen in the 58th minute.

--Xinhua

EU determined to solve Iran's nuclear crisis diplomatically -Spain's FM

Madrid, June 15, IRNA, Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos said here in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart that EU is seriously determined to solve Iran's nuclear crisis resorting to diplomacy.

Moratinos added in his meeting with Manouchehr Mottaki at Spain's Ministry of Foreign affairs, "Delivery of the 5+1 proposal of the permanent UN big five and Germany by the EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana to I.R. of Iran last week, inclusive of the proposed Western incentives for Iran, is among the signs of Europe's determination to solve the problem peacefully."
He reiterated, "In that proposal Iran's right to have access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is recognized."
Moratinos meanwhile pointed out that the Iranian officials' refraining from rejection of the proposal so far "is a step forward" and provides "a good atmosphere" for exchanging viewpoints and achieving consensus over the issue.

The Spanish FM meanwhile asked Iran to continue cooperation with the IAEA.

The IRI Minister of Foreign Affairs Manouchehr Mottaki, too, described the contents of the 5+1 Western proposal as "a step forward", but meanwhile stressed, "The Western package is inclusive of ambiguities regarding the absolute rights of the Iranian nation." He added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran would present its reply to that proposal, after close scrutiny of its contents, in the framework of its own proposal, to the EU."
Among the other issues addressed during the meeting there were the Middle East developments, particularly the latest status in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Moratinos said that the EU, and particularly Spain, were willing for restoration of democracy in Palestine, adding, "We are concerned about the probability of the outbreak of a civil war among Palestinians, whose winner would be Israel."
He asked Iran to mediate in that respect and pave the path for peaceful solution of the Palestinian nation's internal problems.

Mottaki, too, referring to the developments in Palestine after the coming to power of the Hamas government, said, "We all have to respect the people's votes and to assist the Palestinian nation and government to solve their problems."
Mottaki also referred to the constructive role Iran has played in a bid to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan and Iraq, adding, "Tehran backs up the full establishment of Iraq's new popular government."
Moratinos, too, agreed with Mottaki's viewpoints on Iraq and elaborated on the role his country is playing in Afghanistan currently with the stationing of 600 Spanish soldiers in that easter neighbor of Iran.

The two sides during the meeting expressed satisfaction over the good level of bilateral ties, particularly in economic field, pointing out that the volume of the two countries' trade was around two billion euros in 2005.

Mottaki said that President Ahmadinejad's government attaches great importance to ties with Spain and wants all bilateral agreements to be fully implemented

Future mobiles may look like credit cards

London, June 15 (IANS) Future cellular phones may look like credit cards that could be worn around the neck, students making the futuristic designs said.

The students, commissioned by cellphone maker Nokia to design futuristic phones, have come up with some very weird and wacky designs. These also include a phone that would double as a pair of sunglasses.

The students, all from Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London, said the future handset could be something very different from the handset in our pocket now, reported the online edition of New Scientist.

It's all very well to come up with crazy designs, but would they ever actually work?

They just might, according to course director Ben Hughes, who says the students were asked to study technical issues, such as predicted cellphone bandwidth and memory capacity, when coming up with their blue-sky designs.

German fans clash with police; 300 in custody

Dortmund (Germany), June 15 (DPA) Authorities detained about 300 football fans as German supporters clashed with police here before and during their team's World Cup match with Poland, throwing chairs and bottles as they resisted custody.

Germany beat Poland 1-0 thanks to an Oliver Neuville goal in injury time in a Group A encounter Wednesday.

About 60 Polish fans also were placed under temporary arrest to prevent violence between the two camps, police said.

The tournament's first major trouble by German fans began after Dortmund police cornered what they described as about 100 known football hooligans to take them into temporary custody.

The fans rioted and several dozen broke out and got away, chased by riot police. Several people suffered minor injuries, police said.

Tens of thousands of Polish fans flocked to Dortmund to watch the evening match in the 60,000-seat Westfalen Stadium or on giant screens set up around town.

Earlier, police said they took 60 Poles into custody for their own protection. A Briton and a Pole who were on a list of suspected hooligans were turned back at the city's airport after arriving by plane from London.

At least 30 Poles were taken by bus from downtown Dortmund to an assembly point. They were taken into custody for their own protection, police said.

Across Germany, hundreds of thousands of football fans partied peacefully into the night during Germany's second match of the tournament. The hot weather drew people into the streets as never before during this year's World Cup.

Berlin authorities said half a million packed the party zone on the western side of the capital's signature Brandenburg Gate, the longest World Cup "fan mile," where the Dortmund game was shown on nine big screens.

In Dortmund, there was a heavy and watchful police presence all day as Polish and German fans poured into the city, chanting and forming up in large groups.

Gujarat policemen defy government, form unions

Ahmedabad, June 15 (IANS) Gujarat policemen Thursday defied the state government and formed two unions - after a 17-year legal battle.

Around 4,000 constables, head constables and police inspectors from across the state participated in a meet on the outskirts of the city and formed the unions and elected their presidents.

While the state government had for long time denied them the permission to form a union, the Gujarat High Court had observed in March this year that the police personnel had a right to form a union.

"The objective of forming police unions is definitely not to confront the state. It is to exercise our right of proper representation before the government regarding our problems and needs like education of their children," Naresh Brahmabhatt, who led the efforts to form unions, told the gathering.

Brahmbhatt was elected president of the newly formed 'Gujarat State Police Head Constable & ASI (Assistant Sub Inspector) Union'. Another union of the state's police constables was also formed on the occasion.

"The unions passed resolutions demanding recognition from the state government, enabling their presidents with authority to have dialogue with the director general of police (DGP) and with the government on their behalf and expressing need to form policemen's unions at district levels," said Jan Sangharsh Manch lawyer Mukul Sinha, who pleaded their case in the court.

"I am sure all 60,000 policemen in the state would be happy with the formation of the unions," Sinha added.

Gulf experts discuss establishment of monetary union , single currency

ABU DHABI, June 15 (NNN-KUNA) -- Gulf experts on Monetary affairs discussed here Wednesday the implementation of a program designed to establish the monetary union and a single currency for six Arab Gulf states.

The experts, forming what is known as the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) technical committee of the monetary union, discussed unification of statistics related to the monetary union and how the six GCC states could bring their economic performances closer.

A press release said the two-day meeting touched on studying characteristics of the single currency, its categories and designs.

A timetable to implement the national accounting system at the GCC level was discussed by the experts, said the release, in addition to the unification of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Health ministry acts against 'anti-quota' officials of AIIMS

By Prashant K. Nanda,
New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) The health ministry has taken action against three officials of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) who had supported last month's protests against the government's move to increase caste-based quotas in higher educational institutions.

AIIMS sub-dean Neerja Bhatla has been removed from the post and Sunil Chumber has been appointed in her place. Public relations officer Arti Viz stands divested of her charge though she continues to be on the faculty. In the case of senior financial officer Mayank Sharma, his deputation has come to and end, according to separate memorandums signed by D.S. Moorthy, the officer on special duty to Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

Chumber, who has taken charge as sub-dean, was one of the few doctors supporting a pro-quota movement when resident doctors of five medical colleges in the capital were protesting against the government's plan to reserve 27 percent seats for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in institutions of higher learning.

In his letter dated June 9, Moorthy has written: "The honourable president of AIIMS has desired that Dr. Sunil Chumber, additional professor (surgery), may be appointed as sub-dean in place of Dr. Neerja Bhatla with immediate effect."

The health minister is ex officio the president of the institute.

Many at the prestigious institute were shocked by the ministry's move.

"Since Bhatla was appointed only two months back, how can the ministry remove her without explaining the decision? More shockingly, the OSD's letter does not have the signature of the health minister," said a senior AIIMS faculty member on the condition of anonymity.

"How can they remove the three officials without consulting the director of the institute? A ministry official is challenging the autonomy of the institution," said another senior faculty member.

"The minister, who is also the president of our institute, needs to consult the director before taking any decision pertaining to AIIMS. The procedure is not being followed, thanks to political motives.

"Since AIIMS was at the heart of the anti-quota protests, the government is targeting us. We have also received threats of losing jobs," the faculty member said.

AIIMS sources said the ministry was contemplating to remove the institute's director P. Venugopal, too.

Venugopal had Thursday called a meeting of students, faculties and resident doctors to discuss the matter. After the meeting, he told reporters that he was ready to step down but his main "concern is to protect the interests of the students, staffers and the autonomy of the institution".

A delegation of senior AIIMS faculty members this week met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to take AIIMS out of the purview of the health ministry and put it under the Prime Minister's Office.

"We had presented five points before the prime minister - regarding the autonomy of the institute by shifting it under the PMO's purview, the recent exodus of doctors from the institute, the health ministry's interference, the reservation policy at AIIMS and curtailing the user charges at the hospital for the public," said a faculty member who was part of the delegation.

Meanwhile, resident doctors and students of AIIMS Thursday started a signature campaign against the health minister a day after he said those who had participated in the last month's protests would not get any salary for the strike period of 17 days.

I am not Bachchan's spokesman: Amar Singh

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, who had criticised Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for reported income tax notices to Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, Thursday distanced himself from the controversy, saying he was not Bachchan's spokesman.

"I am not Amitabh Bachchan's spokesman. Neither my party nor I did ever try to make it an issue," said Singh who had alleged that the reported income tax notices to Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan were meant to harass them.

While Amitabh Bachchan is a close friend of Singh, Jaya Bachchan has been a Samajwadi Party MP.

"What have I done?" he asked. "I have not talked about Bachchan's notices at all. It was media that dug out everything. I have not spoken to anyone," Singh told reporters at a press conference here.

He, however, tried to put up a brave face on the issue of the income tax department's notice to his wife Pankaja Kumari Singh, reportedly asking her to declare all her properties and assets acquired during the past six years.

Singh challenged the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to order income tax raids on his homes, saying the move would only benefit him politically and could create uproar in and outside parliament.

"I invite income tax officials to raid my homes. It would benefit me politically as it has in the past when (Bahujan Samaj Party leader) Mayawati ordered raids against us when she was Uttar Pradesh chief minister," he said.

The income tax department has sent 37 notices to Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and their actor son Abhishek Bachchan in the last three months, according to reports.

A group of people, said to be Samajwadi Party activists, had taken out a rally in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow earlier this week to protest the income tax department's move.

They had also burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Gandhi, blaming them for "hounding of Bachchan by income tax officials".

Singh, though, said his party did not hold any protests in support of the superstar.

The Congress party has warned the Samajwadi Party leaders that he had "crossed all limits of decency to gain cheap popularity".

The Samajwadi Party supports Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress-led government from outside. In Uttar Pradesh, it is supported by the Congress.

If we play good cricket, we can win: Dravid

By T.R. Ramakrishnan,

Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 15 (IANS) Two Tests, two draws. It could so easily have been two wins, 2-0 for India in the four-Test series against West Indies with two to go.

If the first Test at Antigua was disappointing, there the last wicket pair of Fidel Edwards and Corey Collymore thwarted India, the second which ended on Wednesday at St Lucia, where one whole day's play was washed out, was heart-breaking.

But this Indian team, whatever the hurt inside, believes in looking at the positives. And that's what skipper Rahul Dravid focused on as the team prepares for the next two Tests, in St Kitts (June 22-26) and Kingston, Jamaica (June 30-July 4).

"We can take a lot of heart from this performance," said Dravid. "A lot of confidence. If we play good cricket, we can win. If we hadn't lost 90 overs (the fourth-day washout) we'd have got the win."

Dravid did not agree with the view that the Indian bowling was inadequate, given that in two successive Tests it had failed to bowl out the West Indians in the fourth innings.

"I don't agree that we lack the finishing touch," he said. "It's a very creditable effort to take 17 wickets on this wicket in four days, 200 overs. There wasn't much in it, low bounce, slow with some spin...

"The difference between here and Antigua was (the nature of the wicket)... I got more overs from the spinners here."

Dravid, though, felt there could be improvement in the fielding, especially close-in catching. "I'm sure we can get better but all in all, the boys are doing a good job.

"But on a day like this, in which we have to get a side out in 90 overs, we have to make sure that some of those half-chances get to stick."

Dravid had a special word for Virender Sehwag's efforts with the ball, his 30-over spell in the second innings. Sehwag hasn't bowled more than 12 in a Test innings before and that was in the first Test in Antigua!

Said Rahul: "Viru bowls a lovely line for an off-spinner, great to see him bowl so consistently. He didn't bowl too many loose balls. He'll certainly get some confidence out of this."

India one of the best countries for minorities : BJP Leader

Jammu, June 15, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain described India as one of the best countries in the world for Muslims and minorities to live in a secured atmosphere enjoying equal rights.

"After America, India is the best country to live in for Muslims and other minorities, whose rights are equal to that of the majority community," senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said.

"Minorities in India are enjoying equal rights. In countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and some European nations minorities do not enjoy equal rights," he claimed.

"In India, Muslims can hold the office of President, they can become chief of armed forces and can become Chief Justice. Four Muslims are presently in the Indian cricket team. There is no harassment of minorities here," he said.

Mr. Hussain, did not mention why there are very few Muslim chief ministers and no Prime Minister. He also failed to mention that Indian Muslims are the most backward community of the nation.

Hussain said, considering the rights enjoyed by minorities in the rest of the country, the Jammu and Kashmir government should also ensure safety to minorities including Hindus.

On Hurriyat Conference's representative character, the BJP's National Executive member said that the conglomerate should prove its mass base by opting for an ‘open referendum as it has always stayed away from the mainstream politics’.

Criticising militants for killing innocent civilians, he said, "What kind of jihad is this? As far as I know Islam does not preach killing innocent people."

Some fundamentalists have brought bad name to Islam, not only in the country but also in the whole world, he said.

Hussain also condemned the demolition of a Hindu temple in Lahore saying the BJP would lodge its protest with the Pakistan government. Masjids destroyed in BJP ruled states were not mentioned.

Source:http://sify.com/news_info/news/politics/fullstory.php?id=14227661

India protests demolition of Hindu temple in Pakistan

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) India has protested to Pakistan the demolition of a Hindu temple in Lahore to make way for a commercial complex, an action that has been condemned by political parties and others here.

"This matter has been taken up with the government of Pakistan," external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here Thursday. He said the issue had also been raised with the Pakistan high commission here.

"Both India and Pakistan are strongly committed to protecting the shrines of minority communities on the two sides," Sarna added.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan - which oversees minority shrines - had permitted a jeweller to demolish the Krishna Temple in Lahore to build a commercial complex there.

This evoked strong condemnation in India from minority bodies and political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress party and the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat.

"I strongly condemn the demolition. This latest happening has naturally shocked millions in our country," Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and BJP leader L.K. Advani said.

"We strongly condemn the demolition of Lahore's only temple. This incident has exposed the Pakistan government's false claim to protect Sikh and Hindu shrines," Anees Durrani of the Congress party's minority cell said in a statement.

According to the Dawn newspaper, which reported the demolition, ETPB officials did not mention that the property being given to a jeweller was a Hindu temple, adding the chairman may have rejected the request if he were informed.

India protests demolition of Hindu temple in Pakistan

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) India has protested to Pakistan the demolition of a Hindu temple in Lahore to make way for a commercial complex, an action that has been condemned by political parties and others here.

"This matter has been taken up with the government of Pakistan," external affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here Thursday. He said the issue had also been raised with the Pakistan high commission here.

"Both India and Pakistan are strongly committed to protecting the shrines of minority communities on the two sides," Sarna added.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) of Pakistan - which oversees minority shrines - had permitted a jeweller to demolish the Krishna Temple in Lahore to build a commercial complex there.

This evoked strong condemnation in India from minority bodies and political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress party and the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat.

"I strongly condemn the demolition. This latest happening has naturally shocked millions in our country," Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and BJP leader L.K. Advani said.

"We strongly condemn the demolition of Lahore's only temple. This incident has exposed the Pakistan government's false claim to protect Sikh and Hindu shrines," Anees Durrani of the Congress party's minority cell said in a statement.

According to the Dawn newspaper, which reported the demolition, ETPB officials did not mention that the property being given to a jeweller was a Hindu temple, adding the chairman may have rejected the request if he were informed.

India, Kuwait ink pact on avoidance of double tax

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) India and Kuwait Thursday inked a double tax avoidance pact and agreed on greater cooperation in energy and biotechnology, coinciding with the six-day state visit of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the first by a head of state from the Gulf nation to India in 23 years.

The agreement was signed after delegation-level talks between the two countries, led respectively by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the emir - who had arrived here Wednesday with a large delegation of top ministers and businessmen.

During the talks, the emir - who was extended an official welcome Monday morning at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace - lauded the expertise India had gained in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and IT.

The two leaders focused on ways to not only push bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries significantly but also their age-old cultural relations, external affairs ministry spokesman Navrtej Sarna said.

"Main issues that came up for discussions during the talks is a keen desire from both sides for economic cooperation. In the context of that both sides signed an agreement for avoidance of double taxation," Sarna told reporters here.

The talks also focused on cooperation in counter-terrorism and the two countries signed two more pacts on curbing the flow of narcotics and stepping up cultural exchange programmes.

"Another thing discussed was that there should be possibilities for Indian companies to invest in energy and petrochemicals sectors in Kuwait," Sarna added. India's bilateral trade with Kuwait stands at $700 million annually, excluding oil.

During his six-day stay in India, which includes a visit to Mumbai Friday before leaving for Pakistan, the emir will hold discussions with Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

Kuwait hosts over 500,000 Indian expatriates and Ravi is expected to take up the issue of a proposed bilateral pact on labour to protect the interests of Indian workers.

The emir will address a joint meeting with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry, the three leading business bodies in the country.

Meetings are scheduled with Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L.K. Advani and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

A banquet in his honour was held by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The emir arrived here from Thailand where he took part in celebrations to mark 60 years of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne.

He will be leaving for Pakistan June 19 after a three-day stay in Mumbai during which he will meet industry and government representatives on ways to boost bilateral trade and investments.

India, Pakistan should discuss Kashmir: Aziz

Lahore, June 15 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has stressed that Pakistan and India should resolve through dialogue all contentious issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, to establish peace.

Shaukat Aziz said this while addressing the inaugural session of a seminar, "Muslim-Sikh relations in the historical perspective", Online news agency reported Thursday.

The prime minister said Pakistan and India had significant standing among other countries of the world. Peace will remain elusive in the world unless it is established in these two countries, he said.

Therefore, Pakistan and India will have to take the course of dialogue to settle all contentious issues, including Kashmir, Aziz added.

He said Islamabad sincerely wanted to have peace. "We hope India will also demonstrate such warmth and flexibility in sorting out problems."

Aziz said aerial, rail and land routes were operational between the two countries and Islamabad wanted more routes to be opened after related issues were discussed and solved.

Paying rich tributes to founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak, the prime minister said the spiritual leader proved through his words and deeds that the world could be transformed into a cradle of peace with love and fraternity.

Aziz said he would be happy if more Sikhs came to Pakistan to see how their holy places were being protected. "Pakistan is their home and they can come here from across the world whenever they want to," he said.

A Sikh delegation had sought permission for allowing 5,000 Sikhs to come to Pakistan to attend the seminar.

Aziz announced that a commemorative stamp of Rs.5 denomination was being issued as demanded by the Sikh community. A university in memory of Guru Nanak will also be set up, he said.

The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Minister for Religious Affairs Ejaz Ul Haq, chief of the Parbandhak Committee Sardar Bashan Singh and professor Roshan Singh of the Panjab University, India also spoke in the seminar. Several other political and religious leaders were present on the occasion.

Indian visitors stay the longest in US

By Prashant K. Nanda,

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Indian visitors on an average stay for 42 days in the United States, the longest among visitors from all countries, says an American tourism industry expert.

"Though (neighbours) Mexicans constitute a large portion of tourists visiting the US, it's the Indians who stay for the longest period of time," said Jorge Franz, executive director of tourism of Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"While tourists from Europe spend 14 to 21 days on an average, Mexicans stay for only seven days. But it's the Indians who stay for an average 42 days. We are planning to promote tourism vigorously in India," Franz, currently in India, told IANS.

He said 52 percent come to the US to visit friends and families and 51 percent make a trip for business purposes. In 2005, a total of 334,000 Indians visited the country.

He said the number of visitors from India had grown tremendously in the last few years. "Between 2000 and 2006, the number of visitors grew by 33 percent per annum and it will touch the 55 percent mark by 2008."

However, Indians spent only $42 a day as against $112 by a Mexican, he said.

Franz said looking at the economic growth, efforts were on to push further both leisure travel and business travel among Indians.

"In Houston alone, we would like to promote the Johnson Space Center of NASA, the upcoming cruise tourism in Houston port and many other things to the Indians.

"We had already met a delegate of the Indian Association of Tour Operators and hope things will fall into place soon," he added.

However, experts said that to promote tourism between Houston and India, better air connectivity with India was a must.

"We are in touch with the aviation ministry and assume that Indian carriers like Air India can play a major role in this sector," said Genaro Pena, director marketing, Houston Airport System. A 16-member delegation of the Greater Houston Partnership, a leading commerce body of Houston, is in India to promote bilateral trade between the two regions.

Iran accuses Israel of state terrorism, war crimes

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (KUNA) -- Iran on June 14 said it is "ironic" and "hypocritical" that Israel, which "obstinately" continues to flout basic principles of the UN Charter and shows full contempt for all relevant Security Council resolutions, urges others to comply with those resolutions.

In a letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan and in response to an Israeli letter in late May accusing Iran of "harbouring, financing, nurturing and supporting Hizbollah and other terrorist organization," Iranian envoy Javad Zarif rejected the accusation, stressing that Israel's aim is to distract the world's attention from its act of "state terrorism, war crimes and aggression" in the region.

"It is evident that no amount of deception campaigned by the Israeli regime can cloud the obvious fact that the regime has a history full of terrorism, unlawful policies and inhuman acts in defiance of basic principles of international law," Zarif wrote in his letter.

Italy favors peaceful solution of Iran's nuclear issue

Rome, June 14, IRNA ,Following his telephone conversation with Iranian foreign minister, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema here Wednesday declared his country's support for solving Iran's nuclear issue peacefully.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA, D'Alema said that in his idea direct talks with Iran will help convince Iranians to accept the proposal of the international community.

During his phone conversation with D'Alema this morning, Mottaki told him that Iran has started examining the content of the package of incentives offered by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany (5+1), which was submitted to Iran by European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Meanwhile, Mottaki appreciated Italy's assistance in this respect and referred to Europe's proposal as a 'positive move' and a significant change in approach towards Iran.

For his part, D'Alema said that Iran's role in regional stability is decisive, without which it will be difficult to keep the stability in the region in balance.

The two ministers agreed to meet in Rome and discuss matters of mutual concern.

Japan, India to boost investment cooperation

Tokyo, June 15 (Xinhua) Japan and India decided Thursday on a plan to encourage Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises to invest in India.

The plan "marks a remarkable start for further activating Japan-India economic exchanges" and will help "internationalise technologies of Japan's small and medium-sized enterprises", Toshihiro Nikai, Japanese economy, trade and industry minister said at a news conference in Tokyo.

Visiting Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said that Japan's advanced technology and India's workforce "can be synergised into a win-win situation for both countries".

The two ministers held talks on the sidelines of World Economic Forum on East Asia which began Thursday in Tokyo.

The Japanese government will offer consultation services to firms interested in doing business in India, according to the action plan, and the government-linked Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will open its third office in India next month to support Japanese businesses in the country, as another effort to boost investment in the South Asia giant.

India, on its part, plans to set up special economic zones to attract foreign investment with preferential measures such as tax breaks, according to the document of the plan.

India and Japan are also planning to establish a Japanese industrial cluster or "a Japanese city" in Haryana, northern India, Kyodo News said.

The two countries have also agreed to hold seminars to jointly promote energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as fashion shows to boost textile industries of both countries.

Statistics show that over 300 Japanese firms were operating in India. Some 65 percent of Japanese investment in the country is made by automakers, chemical firms and electronics companies.

--Xinhua

Job guarantee scheme: court notice to Gujarat government

Ahmedabad, June 15 (IANS) The Gujarat High Court Thursday issued notice to the state government over alleged irregularities in a rural employment scheme after a widow told the court that she was paid only four rupees per day instead of the stipulated minimum wage of Rs.60.

Mashruben Makwana of Sabarkantha district had filed the petition in the court earlier this week alleging irregularities in the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme.

Mashruben, a widow from Balisana village, 55 km from here, said she was also asked to get her own digging implements, for which she had to sell the jewellery she had. She was enrolled in the scheme from Feb 20 to March 10.

The court asked the government to explain the matter by June 30.

"The court was surprised over the content of the petition and sought an immediate report and all concerned documents," said Mukul Sinha, who pleaded on behalf of the widow.

According to a voluntary organisation, Sabar Ekta Manch, 165,766 employment cards were issued to the people, but only 19,639 people are found working at 175 sites.

The NREG scheme of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government promises at least 100 days of employment every financial year to able-bodied adults who volunteer for unskilled manual labour in selected districts.

In Gujarat, the scheme is being implemented in six districts.

Check our previous story on this:

Centre to initiate action if Muslims kept out of NREGA

Kandahar hijacking planned by govt: Accused

Patiala, June 14: A prime accused in the hijacking of an Indian airlines plane to Kandahar today told a special court here that the entire drama was planned by the Indian government.

Deposing before the designated court, Yusuf Nepali said the entire hijacking drama was fabricated by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister L K Advani and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

The IC-814 flight was hijacked after it took over from Kathmandu and was taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan.

Nepali, who allegedly assisted the hijackers, told the court that it was an attempt by the government to get rid of three terrorists of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

He said the government was of the view that in case the terrorists were let off, they could be either killed in an encounter or in terrorist activities.

Nepali said the Government of India was finding it hard to curtail terrorist activities of Maulana Masood Azhar and his two accomplices Umar Shaikh and Mohammad Zargar.

He said the three terrorists despite being shifted to Tihar jail from Kashmir were continuing with their terror activities from the prison.

Nepali said Umar Shaikh was convicted by a Pakistan court for the murder of a foreign journalist and was awarded capital punishment.

Nepali said he was innocent and was falsely involved in the case.

He said even the Nepalese government had not proceeded with the case registered in their country.

Nepali said it was not possible for the pilot of the IC 814 to fly the plane to unknown territories without an air map provided by aviation authorities of concerned countries.

Source: Zee News

Kuwait hopeful oil prices will stabilise below $70

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Kuwaiti Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd Al-Sabah Thursday expressed hope that the downtrend in oil prices witnessed this week would continue and global prices would stabilise between $65 and $70 per barrel.

Kuwait is a major oil producer and has about 10 percent of the world's oil reserves.

"Now prices have started to decrease, but we still believe the geopolitical problems will play a major role because of Iran, Iraq and other regions," Al-Sabah told reporters here.

Al-Sabah is here with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who is on a four-nation tour, including Bangladesh, Thailand, India and Pakistan.

"I hope it (oil prices) will be more stable and will continue between $65 and $70 per barrel," the minister said.

He forecast that the "demand (for crude oil) in winter is expected to be lower than last year", but did not elaborate.

Dependent on imports for meeting over 70 percent of domestic requirement, further softening of global oil prices would be welcome news for India as it would help reduce the subsidy burden.

Global prices witnessed a marginal upward trend Thursday after two days of decline though crude prices remained below $70 per barrel.

Kuwait plans more crude supply, oil investments in India

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Kuwaiti Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd Al-Sabah Thursday indicated substantially increasing crude supplies to India over the next four years even as investments opportunities in existing refineries in India are being scouted.

"Kuwait is planning to raise crude oil supplies to India to 300,000 barrels per day (BPD) by 2010 from the existing 270,000 BPD," Al-Sabah told reporters here.

Currently, of the crude oil being imported by India from Kuwait, 230,000 BPD is under term contract.

The minister said Kuwait is looking for opportunities to make investments in existing refineries in India and had signed two agreements in January with state-owned Indian Oil Corporation and one private refinery.

"We want to upgrade existing refineries in India so that they can have secured supplies of investment and crude."

He said as the demand for crude oil in India is growing the fastest after China, it would need to have secured supply of oil.

The minister indicated that once the refinery investments are worked out, Kuwait might study opportunities in petrochemicals also.

Al-Sabah is here with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who is on a four-nation tour, including Bangladesh, Thailand, India and Pakistan.

He invited Indian companies to study possibilities of joining Kuwait in its fourth refinery project which is under planning.

He said that up to 40 percent participation would be allowed in the new refinery which will have capacity for 600,000 BPD and it is targeted to be ready by 2010-11.

He expressed hope that the downtrend in oil prices witnessed this week would continue and global prices would stabilise between $65 and $70 per barrel.

Al-Sabah indicated that $45-55 per barrel would be an acceptable stable price.

"I think fair oil price is that which is acceptable to both producers and consumers."

"While world economy is healthy we are worried about the developing economy (which are vulnerable to high oil prices

He said Kuwait is pumping maximum oil to help maintain stable oil prices which is in tune with the philosophy of Oil Producing and Exploring Countries (OPEC).

Kuwaiti emir accorded ceremonial welcome

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who is on a six-day visit to India, was Thursday accorded a ceremonial welcome on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam received the emir, who along with a high-profile business delegation arrived Wednesday evening. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior cabinet ministers were also present.

During the day, the emir will hold delegation-level talks with the Indian side led by Manmohan Singh. Kalam will host a banquet in the emir's honour Thursday evening.

Officials said two agreements - on double taxation and legal cooperation in civil and trade issues - would be signed during the emir's visit, which includes a trip to Mumbai.

Talks are expected on a bilateral pact on labour between the two sides. Kuwait hosts over 500,000 Indian expatriates, and bilateral trade stands at $700 million annually, excluding oil.

The emir will also address a joint meeting with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry, the three leading business bodies in the country.

Meetings are scheduled with Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, opposition leader L.K. Advani and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The emir arrived here from Thailand where he took part in celebrations to mark 60 years of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne.

He will be visiting Pakistan June 19.

Lara hundred foils India

By T.R. Ramakrishnan,

Gros Islet (St Lucia), June 15 (IANS) West Indian skipper Brian Lara's 120 was instrumental in denying India victory in the second Test at the Beausejour Stadium on Wednesday.

West Indies started the final day at 43 for one, following on 373 behind, and needing to bat a minimum of 98 overs to save the Test. Lara's uncharacteristic knock, lasting 307 balls and more than six-and-a-half hours, in which he hit just 10 fours, ensured they did that.

His dismissal, 15 minutes before the start of the final hour's play, did create a few wobbles in the West Indies camp and India scented a whiff of victory, just as they had in the first Test in Antigua eight days ago.

But, like in that match, it was not to be and West Indies finished at 294 for 7, leaving the teams level after two drawn Tests and all to play for in the next two, at Warner Park, St Kitts (June 22-26) and Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica (June 30-July 4).

Of course, the wet weather played a big role in the match and India were denied as much by the loss of the entire fourth day as much as by Lara's epic knock.

Skipper Rahul Dravid was philosophical about that. "The fates didn't favour us," he said after the match, "but there's no point worrying about it. It's not in our control.

"What we can control is the way we can play and we did that well. We are happy with our performance over four good days of cricket.

"It was a great effort to put the pressure on them like we did. There were limited ways to get a guy out on this track. Our bowlers did very well to come close to pulling off a win in four days."

The load of taking wickets fell on Anil Kumble, the senior bowler in the side, and he toiled manfully all day, bowling 40 overs, getting the wickets of Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo.

Virender Sehwag, adjudged man of the match for his magnificent 180, lent him great support on a track that had nothing for the medium-pacers, bowling 30 overs of well-controlled off-spin in which he always troubled the left-handers.

He got the vital wicket of Lara, adjudged leg before by umpire Asad Rauf - the ball may have hit him outside the line of off-stump as he tried to play on the onside - but a few times, when Lara offered pad instead of bat, he was lucky not to given out.

Munaf Patel was the pick of the medium-pacers and he did a great job both at the start -- getting rid of Ramnaresh Sarwan, just after Kumble had bagged Ganga -- and towards the end, when Dravid brought him on for a tiring Sehwag.

In his first over during the mandatory overs, the 12th, he had Denesh Ramdin in all sorts of trouble and should have had him caught by the skipper in the second slip but Dravid, going low to his left, failed to hold the chance.

Patel then tormented Ian Bradshaw in his next over before dismissing him in the following one but by that time it was too late.

It was the penultimate over of the day - India managed to squeeze in an extra two in the final hour - and new man Jerome Taylor and Ramdin (19 not out, 61 balls) played out the remaining balls safely.

Lara's innings was the key around which the West Indian defensive effort revolved. After Ganga and Sarwan fell early, he and Chanderpaul (54, 113 balls, 6 fours) put on 129 for the fourth wicket. Then Lara added 71 with Dwayne Bravo (47, 122 balls, 1 six, 7 fours).

When he got out, the West Indies were 252 for 5 and perhaps there was still time for India to go for a win. But as things turned out, he had done more than enough to ensure safety.

Lara was clearly delighted with his effort, coming as it was after a poor run in the one-dayers and three mediocre innings in the Tests.

"Today's was a momentous innings," he said later. "In some situations, you have to dig deep, show a lot of character. At no point today was I on top of the bowling. I had to tough it out ... and those are the one's you enjoy most.

"The amount of balls I faced today, I would have normally been on 250 or so. I have to learn to bat long for the benefit of the team."

In this, his third avatar as West Indies captain, Lara has repeatedly said his job is to be a leader of a young team. On Wednesday, he did just that, leading from the front.

SCOREBOARD

Day 5, Second Test, West Indies v India,

Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet ( St Lucia) June 14 (IANS)

Result: Match drawn

India (1st innings): 588 for 8 decl

West Indies (1st innings): 215

West Indies (2nd innings):

Chris Gayle c Dhoni b Pathan 2
Daren Ganga b Kumble 26
Brian Lara lbw Sehwag 120
Ramnaresh Sarwan c Dhoni b Patel 1
Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Pathan b Kumble 54
Dwayne Bravo c Yuvraj b Kumble 47
Denesh Ramdin not out 19
Ian Bradshaw lbw Patel 1
Jerome Taylor not out 0

Extras (4 lb, 15 nb, 5 pen) 24

Total (for 7 wkts, 119 overs) 294

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-51, 3-52, 4-181, 5-252, 6-276, 7-291

Bowling:

Irfan Pathan 15-2-50-1
Munaf Patel 21-7-50-2 (4nb)
VRV Singh 11-0-39-0 (4nb)
Anil Kumble 42-10-98-3 (6nb)
Virender Sehwag 30-10-47-1 (1nb)

Pic source:razercheers

Left-UPA meeting likely to be stormy

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Tensions between the Left parties and the Congress-led government may touch an all time high at the coordination committee meeting Thursday when the communists issue a stern reminder that the common minimum programme (CMP) should be adhered to "strictly".

After terming the Manmohan Singh government a failure, the Left parties that back him are ready with their suggestions to make his rule "common man friendly".

At the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left coordination committee meeting Thursday evening, leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front will meet Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior cabinet ministers to air their grievances about the policies of the government.

The four-party Left Front has submitted a detailed note, which is apparently a bleak appraisal of the government's performance. It is believed to have criticised the government for its failure to protect the interests of the common man, uphold India's traditional foreign policy and maintain communal harmony.

In the nine-page note, delivered to the prime minister Wednesday, the Left Front has reportedly alleged that the government had distanced itself from the promises in the CMP, the agenda for governance for the coalition.

The Left Front shores up the multi-party UPA government.

At Thursday's meeting, leaders of the CPI-M, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Forward Bloc are expected to ask the government to introduce capital gains tax, which they say will check market instability, increase corporate tax and other taxes for the rich.

They will also reiterate their stance against disinvesting the profit making public sector units (PSUs) and foreign direct investment in the retail sector.

"We are of the view that the government has not done anything to save the PSUs that are running into losses and that the UPA government's pace in introducing reforms is too fast. The acceleration has to come down," said a Left leader.

The Left, which held a nation-wide protest Tuesday against the recent fuel price hike, is also likely to repeat their suggestion to cut excise and customs duty on crude oil imports.

The government last week increased the prices of petrol by Rs.4 per litre and of diesel by Rs.2 per litre to cut the losses of state-run oil marketing companies that have been hit by soaring global crude prices.

The Left maintains that the price hike could have been avoided if the government had implemented the alternatives suggested by them.

Besides, sources said, Left leaders would also reiterate their criticism on Manmohan Singh's foreign policy, which they believe tilts towards the US.

Neuville saves German pride, Spain go on a goal fiesta

Berlin, June 15 (DPA) Oliver Neuville struck late against Poland to keep Germany on a winning course, while Spain entered the fray with a 4-0 drubbing of Ukraine in Wednesday's World Cup action.

That highest score of the tournament so far shot the Spaniards atop Group H where, in the last of the opening matches, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia parted 2-2 in an affair that began as a damp squib and ended as a firecracker - but ultimately benefited only Ukraine.

Germany's win came a full 10 years after their last victory against European opposition at a football championship.

Substitute Neuville scored in injury time to spare German blushes against a 10-man side and give his team their first victory against European opposition since beating Czechoslovakia in the final of the European Championship in 1996.

The country erupted. In Berlin, the "fan mile" - where fans had to be turned away before the start of the match as there were already 250,000 people crammed into the area - exploded in a sea of German flags when Neuville found the back of the net.

Neuville said his side had kept believing that they could still turn the match around. "I had a much easier chance from which I did not score, so I was very happy when I found the back of the net.

"We had a tough task here tonight but, thank goodness, we got one in the end. The goal was more than deserved. Now we intend beating Ecuador and finishing top of the group."

Germany dominated throughout the game but were denied until the 91st minute by goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who pulled off a number of spectacular saves.

The Poles, who were stunned 2-0 in their opening game by Ecuador, were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo sent off Radoslaw Sobolewski for a second bookable offence.

The victory sees Germany top the group on six points from Ecuador who have three. Poland and Costa Rica, who take on Ecuador on Thursday, are still without a point.

Spain's four-goal fiesta saw Liverpool's Xabi Alonso put Luis Aragones' side in front, David Villa grabbed two and Fernando Torres completed the rout.

Two-goal hero Villa said: "We played very well. It was the perfect debut and now we just hope to continue playing the same way."

Blohkin had surprisingly picked new Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko to start despite fitness concerns, but starved of quality service he did little to trouble the Spanish defence.

Two minutes after the break Vladislav Vashchuk tugged at Fernando Torres' shorts and saw the tournament's first straight red card, with Villa converting the accompanying spot kick.

For Spain in a season that it produced the winners of both the Champions League (Barcelona)and the UEFA Cup (Sevilla), it was the best start to a World Cup in their 12 appearances.

It was the worst, however, for the Saudis and Tunisia, as each was itching to grab maximum points in the face of later matches against Spain and Ukraine. Their point apiece left Ukraine with hope.

For eight minutes it looked like something out of 1001 Arabian Nights as Saudi striker Sami al-Jaber hit what would have been a fairytale 2-1 winner against Tunisia in a thrilling close.

Hardly had the veteran striker come on for his fourth World Cup campaign and 161st cap, and he hit the 84th-minute goal - only to see Tunisia's Rahdi Jaidi grab an injury time equaliser.

Zied Jaziri had hit the 23rd-minute first half lead for Tunisia, and Yaser al-Qahtani equalised for the Saudis in the 57th minute of a match that truly came alight in the closing phase.

"We won a point" said Tunisia's French coach Roger Lemerre. "We lost two points," was the more accurate verdict of the Saudis' Brazilian coach Marcos Paqueta after the Arab duel.

Jaziri's first half strike was the only real high point of the first half. He right-footed a beautiful volley off a rebounded free kick which seemed to slap into the back of Mabriuk Ziad's net before the Saudi keeper realised what had happened.

The first Saudi goal came in a beautiful, flowing move 12 minutes into the second half when al-Qahtani connected first time to slash home a cross from Mohammed Noor after a blistering run on the right.

It was a wonderful, flowing move that had the Saudis dancing with delight and also getting to their knees in the direction of Mecca in thanks for a goal at last after the drought of the 2002 tournament, in which they conceded 12 goals.

Al-Jaber again sent the Saudis into raptures and kneeling towards Mecca barely two minutes after coming on as a late substitute. The veteran striker made it look so easy - controlling the ball after straying out to the left, then calmly left-footing past the onrushing Ali Boumnijel for his third goal in four World Cup campaigns.

It was all the more bitter for the Saudis - and a real group lifeline for Tunisia - when Rahdi Jaidi grabbed his an injury time equaliser, getting his head to Ziad Jaziri's cross for the 2-2.

Pakistan lawmaker demands probe into 'wars with India'

Islamabad, June 15 (IANS) A Pakistani opposition lawmaker has questioned the role of the army and demanded a national probe into "wars with India since 1947".

Khawaja Asif of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) said in the National Assembly on Wednesday that an independent inquiry commission to evaluate the wars with India would "expose the pathetic performance of the armed forces".

He contended that Pakistan-administered Kashmir was not "liberated" by the Pakistan Army but by tribal people, the Daily Times said. The PML-N leader said thousands of billions of rupees had been spent on the armed forces since 1947, but they had delivered very little.

The lawmakers of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the PML-N have been strident in their criticism of President Pervez Musharraf, reflecting the emerging coalition between their respective leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif - both former prime ministers and long arch rivals.

However, Musharraf has come in for praise from representatives of the third major party, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).

Declaring a "revolt" against the continuing domination of the country by army generals, Asif said: "If generals are feudal lords and civilians their subjects, I, being a peasant, announce a revolt against the feudal lords to get back my rights."

Asif's speech in the National Assembly drew applause from his colleagues and stunned silences from the treasury benches.

Asif, who alleged that the generals were following the old feudal tradition of keeping their subjects from being educated, was however challenged by treasury MNA Ali Akbar Wains. Wains pointed out that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif once had close relations with the military establishment.

Asif said he had as much respect for the armed forces and generals as they had shown for the constitution and democratic institutions. He said the politicians of the country had paid for their mistakes, receiving lashes, jail, hangings and exile.

"The generals are yet to pay their debt to the nation. And the people of Pakistan will soon get them to pay every single penny they owe," he said.

Asif said that Musharraf had a lower stature than any of the 342 MNAs. "You are taller than him because you are the elected representatives of the people. He requires his military uniform to remain in power."

He said history would never forgive Punjab if it stayed silent about what was happening in Balochistan. He said that Punjab had remained silent in 1971, which led to the secession of Bangladesh.

People happiest with lives when older

Toronto, June 15 (IANS) People are happier with their lives the older they get, with the greatest level of happiness prior to when they are in their mid-70s, says a study.

Researchers at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan studied 540 adults in two groups - the first group between 21 and 40 years age, and the second group over the age of 60.

The researchers asked the participants to rank their own happiness on a scale of 1 to 10 at their current age, at age 30, and at age 70. They also asked them to judge how happy most people are at those ages, reported the online edition of 'The Globe and Mail'.

They found that while both older and younger people believe most people are happier in their youth, quite the opposite is true.

In fact, people reported that they are happier with their lives the older they get, lead researcher Heather Lacey said.

"When we're younger, we seem to be more focused on learning new skills, achieving new successes, acquiring things," the researchers said in their study published in the June issue of the Journal of Happiness Studies.

"As we get older, we seem to recognise that life is only going to go on so much longer, time is starting to run short, and so we start to shift our goals more to social relationships, and things that make us happy."

"We stop worrying about achieving, and start thinking about enjoying. People also get better at managing their moods and not 'sweating at the smaller stuff'," she said.

PM assures Left on checking price rise

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday assured the Left that his government would take measures to contain the rise in prices of essential commodities.

According to leaders of Left parties, who attended the Left-UPA co-ordination committee meeting here, both Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the spiralling prices of essential commodities and promised that the government would take immediate steps to control them.

"The prime minister said that the government will convey the steps to be taken to control the price rise in the next UPA-Left coordination meeting," said a Left leader, who was present at the meeting.

Sources in the Left Front said that the meeting did not discuss the fuel price hike against which the communists held a nationwide protest Tuesday.

The meeting also discussed the government's ongoing dialogue with various Kashmiri groups, communal situation in the country and current state of affairs in the northeast.

Besides Manmohan Singh and Gandhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel participated in the meeting on behalf of the Congress, while the Left parties were represented by Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat, polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan, RSP leader Abani Roy and Forward Bloc leader Debaprada Biswas.

"The next meeting of the coordination committee would be held in July," said a spokesperson after the meeting that lasted a little over two hours at the Prime Minister's 7, Race Course Road residence.

The left had set the tone of the meeting Wednesday by sending a detailed note on 19 different issues to the prime minister expressing disappointment at "UPA's inability to address the concerns expressed by the left."

In the nine-page note, delivered to the prime minister Wednesday, the Left Front has accused the government of distancing itself from the promises in the common minimum programme, the agenda for governance for the coalition.

"The experience of the working of coordination committee has been bad, the discussion on several issues has generally not let to any satisfactory conclusion," the note mentioned.

Terming the coordination committee as merely a talking forum with no concrete results, the note objected to functioning of the planning commission. "It has become hub of pursuing more liberal policies," it said.

The Left parties, in this note, had accused the government of pro-Us foreign policy by remaining a mute spectator to US led NATO's attempt to set up a military base in Afghanistan. This would have grave implications for the regional stability and security in the long run.

R.S. Gavai is new Bihar governor

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Former Republican Party of India MP R.S. Gavai has been appointed as the governor of Bihar, a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said Thursday.

Gavai, a Dalit leader, succeeds Buta Singh who resigned in January in the wake of an adverse Supreme Court judgement that questioned his recommendation to dissolve the state assembly in March 2005.

Sensex registers record single day gain

Mumbai, June 15 (IANS) India's benchmark share market index Thursday climbed nearly seven percent, posting the biggest-ever single day gain after a three-day slide.

Bulls assumed charge and roared in after getting knocked severely for three straight days.

Investors rushed to mop-up stocks as they found valuations attractive after a sharp correction of over 29 percent from its all-time high of 12,671.11 May 11.

The barometer BSE Sensex settled well below the 9,000 level, for the first time this year.

Having resumed upbeat on the back of an Asian recovery, the Sensex settled 133 points in the red, on 8,929.44, and viciously swung 790 points between vital tops and bottoms.

Dealers said software services firms and auto makers led the rally on the index, with bellwether Infosys Technologies rising nearly 10 percent to Rs.2,728.25, and top exporter Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. up 4.5 percent to 1,554.35.

"It was an absorbing session from start to finish. The BSE Sensex vaulted a record-breaking 615.62 points after three consecutive bearish sessions," said a market analyst.

"The benchmark index after surging almost 4 percent at the opening at one point of time, came all out all to finish on 9,545.06, a rally of 6.89 percent from beginning to the end. A recovery across global markets, including Asia, only added to the market sentiment," he said.

The market-breadth, which had been negative when it slumped, was positive Thursday, with 1,691 shares advancing, against 681 that declined. Only 46 scrips remained unchanged.

The BSE clocked a turnover of Rs.30,000 million, much higher than Tuesday's Rs.26,920 million.

Drug maker Nicholas Piramal rode on its plans to buy Pfizer's Morpeth British facility raising 8.40 percent to Rs.171.

India's largest construction and heavy engineering firm rose 11.4 percent to Rs.2,041 after the company announced that it was looking for more joint ventures in the Gulf region.

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) too jumped to Rs. 134.70 on a dividend declaration of Rs.8.5 per share.

GHCL rose 3.26 percent to Rs.99.85 on reports that it is in the final stages of acquiring UK's largest home textiles retailer, Rosebys, in a $50 million deal.

Carborundum Universal jumped 14 percent to Rs.126.50 on entering into a joint venture with CEEB for a 49 percent stake in Jingri, Yanjiao, China.

Forbes Gokak surged 20 percent to Rs.499, after the textile firm said it would form a shipping joint venture with state-run SCI.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals spurted 5.42 percent to Rs.278 on signing a joint venture agreement with the Virchow Group, Hyderabad, to produce Triclosan for domestic and other Asian markets.

Kale Consultants rose five percent to Rs.84.40 on bagging a five-year contract for revenue accounting processing services from the company for approximately 8 million pounds sterling.

As per the contract signed, the company will provide revenue accounting processing services to BMI, the second-largest airline operating out of London Heathrow from its managed processing service centre here.

Shashi Tharoor is India's candidate for UN chief

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) India Thursday nominated UN Under Secretary General Shashi Tharoor for the post of UN chief while seeking support of Asian countries to the principle of regional rotation for the key post.

Under this principle, the next UN head should be from Asia when the present Secretary General Kofi Anan demits office, external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters here.

A final decision on the candidate for the top UN post is expected by October. Tharoor is the first Indian to be nominated for the post.

The government decision, Sarna said, was based on the fact that Tharoor has impeccable credentials and meets with India's desire to have the august body headed by "a person with strong commitment to UN reforms and the interests of the developing countries".

A well-known columnist and author of eight books, Tharoor has handled several important areas in the UN since 1978 including peacekeeping, human rights and communication strategy.

He has also been closely involved in the process of UN reforms and was a key aide to Annan.

Sarna said India has already approached other UN member countries through diplomatic channels to seek support for Tharoor's candidature.

India is hopeful of getting the support, given Tharoor's "internationally acclaimed stature" and the fact that under the principle of regional rotation the next UN secretary general should be from Asia, he said.

"India strongly supports the principle of regional rotation under which the next secretary general of the UN should be from Asia. The Asian group within the UN had approached other groups seeking their support for this principle and the African group has already confirmed its support."

"We hope that other regional groups would also articulate support for the rotational principle," Sarna said.

Taj Mahal security to be beefed up

Agra, June 15 (IANS) Security around the Taj Mahal is to be beefed up in the wake of a renewed terrorist threat to the world's most famous monument to love.

"The recent security review necessitated enhancement of security all around Taj Mahal", Agra Senior Superintendent of Police Dipesh Juneja told IANS.

"The security review of the monument was a routine affair and this time intelligence inputs indicated a renewed militant threat to the monument.

"We have already deployed additional cops at various strategic points around the monument, and we were drawing up a fresh plan for laying a beefed-up security net around the periphery of the monument," he said.

"At present, the main security focus is on the vast open rear side overlooking the Yamuna river and Mehtab Bagh, from where infiltration could be made quite easily," the police officer said.

Juneja has taken the government's sanction for additional deployment of 300 additional cops to beef up security around Taj. Directives have also been issued to light up the area around Taj Mahal so as to ensure vigil at night.

"The special contingent of 300 police personnel would be exclusively devoted to the external security of the monument on the same lines as had been done for the disputed shrines in Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi," he said.

The security arrangements of the monument that draws millions of tourists from different corners of the globe was in the hands of a private agency hired by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) until 2002. The state police maintained round-the-clock vigil on the peripheral area including the three outer gates.

However, following a threat by a Kashmiri militant group to blow up the monument, the central and state governments jointly decided to entrust Taj security to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Picture souce: Flash THis

The Indian connection in World Cup football

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) India may be 117th on the official football ranking list, but millions in the country have found reason to celebrate because of Vikash Dhorasoo, the Indian origin mid-fielder who is playing for France.

The 32-year-old 1.68-metre tall player, whose forefathers migrated to Mauritius from Andhra Pradesh, made his World Cup debut in a Group G match against Switzerland Tuesday, giving millions of Indians around the world a reason to cheer.

His ring finger also came in for some attention during the match when an official asked him to remove it before he came on to the field, with the camera focussed on the action. Players are not allowed to wear jewellery on the field.

Dhorasoo, who was born and brought up in France, substituted Sylvain Wiltord in the 84th minute of the match in Stuttgart. He finally played alongside French captain Zinadine Zidane, with whom he often has had to compete for a place in the national team.

Having represented Le Havre, Lyon, Bordeaux, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain in various tournaments in France, Dhorasoo came into sharp focus on the global stage when he took the field against Switzerland in the match.

In 2003-04 season, Dhorasoo was named Best Player of Ligue 1 in France. He then shifted to AC Milan, from where he took a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain to be near a stadium he was attached to - the Paris Saint-Germain Parc des Princes ground.

"We're talking about the club from the capital, after all, and I'll be playing at the Parc des Princes. I grew up not too far from here and when I was little we used to drive past the Parc all the time," he had said in an interview after joining PSG.

Dhorasoo's decisions apparently also depend on another factor.

"Every time I've changed clubs in my career it's been a lifestyle choice," he said in the same interview.

That Dhorasoo's talent was recognised by the higher echelons in French football is borne from that fact that he was picked in the national side when he was on the bench for AC Milan.

Last year, Dhorasoo, after a lot of mulling, decided to return to France as he joined Paris Saint-Germain from AC Milan through a mutual understanding.

Dhorasoo has also played for French under-21 and under-23 Olympic teams and also experienced the 1996 Olympic finals in Atlanta.

He played for Le Havre AC until 1998 and joined Olympique Lyon for a three-year stint. His next move was to Girondins de Bordeaux, but returned to Olympique Lyon again.

He was born Oct 10, 1973, in Harfleur in France.

Tunisia hold Saudi Arabia for a draw

Munich, June 14 (Xinhua) Saudi Arabia held African champions Tunisia to a 2-2 draw in their World Cup Group H match here Wednesday.

Zied Jairi gave Tunisia a 1-0 after 23 minutes, firing home a spectacular volley after Redha Tuker made a poor clearance from a free kick.

Yasser Al Khatani equalised the score for Saudi Arabia with their first World Cup goal since 1998, in the 57th minute. Mohammed Noor sent in a low cross and Khatani cut in between two Tunisian defenders to slot the ball home.

The Asians side surprised all to go ahead in the 84th minute. Sami Al Jaber, who was sent on from the bench in the second half, rounding off an exquisite one-touch move from the back by tucking the ball past Tunisia's 40-year-old goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel.

Tunisia, bidding for the first win for Africa at the World Cup, levelled the score with a last-gasp goal to make it 2-2.

Group H rivals Ukraine are happy to see the result since they were crushed by Spain in an earlier match.

Urdu press roundup

Indian Muslims Need United Leadership to Put an End to Their Woes

By IndianMuslims.info staff

The challenges Indian Muslims have been facing are many. Some of them like protection of mosques and other Waqf properties as well as lack of a united leadership made headlines in Urdu newspapers this week.

It is not that mosques are desecrated and demolished by communal and fascist forces alone as happened in the demolition of Babri Masjid; they are also desecrated by law and order machinery, razed in the name of clean-city demolition drive and locked in the name of protecting ancient monuments. On June 4 Rashtriya Sahara, Akhbar-e-Mashriq and Awam reported Indian Muslims’ plea to open 600 historical mosques in the country, 53 in Delhi alone, presently under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), to say 5 times daily prayers therein. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind emerged as the first Muslim organisation to raise this issue. Its Ameer Dr. Abdul Haq Ansari called upon the Union Government to open and make these mosques accessible forthwith for Muslims to pray. The report lamented the tragedy that Muslims are prohibited from offering prayers in these mosques while foreign tourists and ASI workers are given free hand to violate their sanctity (by playing cards and consuming liquor, etc.). Expressing his grave concern on this painful situation, the Harvard-educated Jamaat chief called the ban “illegal� and “unconstitutional�.

Earlier, former Jamaat Ameer Maulana Muhammad Yusuf, in his February 5, 1979 letter to the Union Minister of Housing and Waqf Sikandar Bakht, and his successor Maulana Abul Lais Islahi Nadwi, in his February 21, 1984 letter to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also drawn the attention of the Government authorities to restore the usurped right of saying prayers in these mosques to the Muslims, the report added.

Two mosques, allegedly built on occupied lands at Yamuna Pushta in the Vikas Marg area of New Delhi were demolished in the wee hours of June 10. In a bid to make the city neat and clean enough to host the Commonwealth Games 2010, the government has launched the demolition drive for the last few weeks, rendering thousands of poor jhuggi-dwellers roofless. The said two mosques were however saved from demolition last month. But on court orders they were now razed, Allah Bakhsh, a member of Masjid committee told the Express (June 11). Citing opinions of different Ulema and leaders like Mufti Muhammad Mukarram Ahmed and Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi, the Express of June 12 enlightened the community that a mosque built on an occupied land is not acceptable in the eyes of Shari’ah.

Illegal occupation of Waqf properties is another problem confronting Indian Muslims. The Express of June 10 reported some people in illegal possession of 950-year-old Muslim graveyard in Nabi Kareem (Pahad Ganj) area of New Delhi. The report said though Tis Hazari Court in its February 4, 2005 judgement had directed the authorities to get the graveyard vacated yet the illegal possession has been continuing till date by greasing the palm of police personnel thanks to the apathy of law and order machinery.
The Urdu dailies of June 6 reported a joint survey conducted by Mr. Yugendra Yadav, Senior Fellow of Center for Study of Developing Societies, Freelance journalist Anil Chamadya, and Jitendra Kumar of Media Study Group. The survey has revealed that Muslim representation in national media is very low. While Indian Muslims are 13-14% of the total population (unofficially about 20%), they hold only 4% key posts in media. In the national capital, no Muslim holds topmost post in the mainstream media. However in Hindi electronic media Muslim representation is 6%. The survey, conducted between May 30 to June 3, covered 315 senior journalists of 37 English and Hindi newspapers and TV channels.

Indian Muslims need a strong and united leadership to tackle such problems. But, as the sectarian differences and leaders’ vested interests would have it, this much desired leadership is not that conspicuous. The Awam of June 10 reported Muslim leaders in the various political parties standing in the dock for their indifference to the community issues. Addressing a workshop on “Political Worthlessness of Muslims in Maharashtra: Causes & Remedies� held in Mumbai on June 8 under the aegis of Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ), most of the speakers shared the view that Muslim leaders are slave to their respective political parties, and held them responsible for the present pathetic condition of Muslims. They called upon the Ulema and political leaders to devise unity in the rank and file of Muslims if they really care for the progress and development of the community, the report said.

All Urdu dailies of June 11 reported Shahi Imam Jama Masjid Delhi Maulana Syed Ahmad Bukhari’s launch of a United Democratic Front with former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim as its chairman and Rahat Mahmood Choudhury, the Imam’s right hand, as its General Secretary. In view of the forthcoming Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, the Imam also announced the formation of the Front’s UP chapter namely Uttar Pradesh United Democratic Front on the pattern of Assam United Democratic Front.

While the Qaumi Awaz was critical of the Imam’s announcement to this effect in such a meeting which could never be called ‘a representative session of Indian Muslims,’ the Awam editorially hailed the Front, and underlined the need of good, selfless leaders who could really serve the community rising above differences of sorts. In the Express of June 12, Syed Atharuddin of Meerut, in his regular humorous column, Rab Hi Janey! (Only God Knows!), made light of the situation in which Muslims are getting ‘united’ under the banners of Imam Bukhari, Haji Yaqoob Qureshi, Kalb-e-Jawwad, Jamiatul Ulema, Mulayam Singh and V.P. Singh. His Buddhu exclaims: when Muslims are getting united so vehemently they will sure get strengthened, won’t they? Pat came the reply from Masterji: Rab Hi Janey Buddhu!

The Express of June 6 covered a symposium on reservation organised by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO). Addressing the symposium, the organisation’s president Zameer Qadri called upon the authorities concerned to contain dropout cases if they really wanted to reap real benefits of reservation. The Mashriq of June 9 however reported Muzaffariya Educational and Welfare Trust holding an All India Educational Conference at Ghalib Academy where Mufti Rifaqat Husain Qasmi underlined the importance of modern education for madrasa graduates, and Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi emphasised the strengthening of primary education to provide the children with solid foundation.

Though Indian Muslims feel step-motherly treatment meted out to Urdu, there is some good news from Bihar, where Urdu, the second official language in the State, is now the second official language in the State Assembly as well. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an announcement to this effect on June 9. Welcoming Mr. Kumar’s initiative, president Urdu Development Organisation Bihar Nasim Ahmad said the Chief Minister has also launched an Urdu half-yearly journal Tarjuman-e-Assembly and decided to run the proceedings of the Assembly in Urdu also (the Awam, June 10).