VOL: 2 ISSUE 49
MK accuses CEC
TN CEO bias against DMK Govt
Chennai, Mar 4
Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M Karunanidhi
today accused the Chief
E l e c t i o n
Commissioner(CEC) and
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral
Officer(CEO) of being
biased against the Dravida
M u n n e t r a
Kazhagam(DMK)
Government.
In an epistle to
partymen, Mr Karunanidhi
explained in detail as how
the Election Commission
and CEO had shown
undue interest in the
shifting and appointment
of three police officers
during the Thirumangalam
a sse m b l y b ye l e cti o n ,
hours after opposition
AIADMK leader J
Jayalalithaa complained
about the police officials.
Making it clear
that his intention was not to
point an accusing finger
against anyone, he was
pointing out as how the
Election Commission and
CEO were acting, so that
there could be a debate for
March 04, 2009
the benefit of those who Tamil Nadu, the EC Jammu and Kashmir, not called on him even conduct came into force,
believed in democracy. conducted the by-poll in elections are held in a once on courtesy, the the State Government had
He said the a hurried manner for the peaceful manner'', Mr Chief Minister further m a d e s o m e
Election Commission, reasons best known to it. Karunanidhi said. Legal pointed out. announcements regarding
being an autonomous W h e n M s experts and politicians But CECs and the constitution of
body, enjoyed sky-high Jayalalithaa made a should ponder whether Election Commissioners Vanniayar Welfare Board,
powers to appoint or demand to transfer some the remarks made by Mr do call on President and but the CEO spoken to
remove any officers, and police officials on Gupta were biased or Prime Minister after their some newspaper offices
the same could not be December 31 last, the not and amounted to appointments and in and asked them not to
questioned by the State CEC and CEO Naresh influencing the voters, Tamil Nadu also, CEOs publish the report. ''What is
the Chief Minister said. l i k e O z a , his interest in this,'' the
He said Mr Chandrachoodan, Chief Minister asked.
Gupta was acting in such Sarangi and Mathew had Though the acts
a manner as if ''no one called on Chief Ministers of the Election
can question his on many occasions, he Commission and officials
powers'', though he was said. were not questionable,
appointed by the Tamil Mr Karunanidhi there was no bar to explain
Nadu Government for a said that well before the them to the people, he
specific period. Election Commission added.
Ever since the announced the schedule
DMK came to power in for Lok Sabha elections -Agencies
May 2006, Mr Gupta had and the model code of
a n d C e n t r a l Gupta had vied with each
Governments. other in conceding her
Apart from this, the demand, he charged.
Commission decides The same day,
when the elections the Election Commission
should be conducted. had directed the State
H o w e v e r, i t w a s Government to transfer
unfortunate that the CEC the officials and even
N Gopalaswami had insisted that they should
recommended to the be replaced by officials
President, the removal of suggested by the
Election Commissioner Commission, Mr
Navin Chawla, the Chief Karunanidhi said and
Minister said. wanted to know, who had
He said when given the list of names of
byelection was caused to police officials to the
the Lok Sabha or Commission.
Assembly, it was held The day when
within six months, along Ms Jayalalithaa made
with the General the demand, Mr Gupta,
elections to avoid contrary to facts, had
unncessary expenses. alleged that there was
But in case of large-scale violence in
Thirumangalam the constituency and
assembly byelection in remarked that ''even in
Page 2 Times Chennai E-Paper
Two week ultimatum for
T Nagar traders
Chennai, March 04:
The Madras High
Court has granted two
weeks to traders at
Ranganathan Street,
Madley Road and Natesan
Road to remove the
encroached portion of their
buildings/structures on
their own.
If they failed to do
so, the Chennai
Corporation and the
Chennai Metropolitan
Development Authority
(CMDA) would demolish
the encroached portions
and collect the cost of
demolition from the owners
University asked to furnish
appointment details
Chennai March 04:
University of
Madras Chancellor and
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit
Singh Barnala has asked
the University of Madras to
furnish by Wednesday
details of absorption of 13
temporary staff into the
university rolls by the
Syndicate of the University.
This follows the report titled
`Backdoor entry, courtesy
VC’ published in an English
Daily on February 19.
Barnala asked
the university to furnish
remarks relating to the
GPS in 600 MTC buses
in Chennai soon
Chennai, March 04
Buoyed by the
success of the Global
Positioning System (GPS)
installed in few
Metropolitan Transport
Corporation (MTC) buses,
the corporation has
decided to expand the
facility in more number of
buses plying on the arterial
Anna Salai and
Poonamallee High Roads
in the city.
B r i e f i n g
newspersons at a press
conference about the
performance of MTC,
Debendranath Sarangi,
Secretary, Transport, said
the GPS services would be
made available in 600
buses by the end of April.
He said: “This will enable
more people to use public
transport, and lead to a
of the buildings/
structures, the First
Bench comprising Acting
Chief Justice S J
Mukhopadhaya and
Justice V Dhanapalan
said here on Tuesday.
The Bench was passing
an interim order on a
public interest writ
petition from ‘Traffic’ K R
Ramaswamy, seeking to
r e m o v e t h e
encroachments on the
three streets.
After perusing a
joint report submitted by
the Chennai Corporation
and the CMDA, the
appointment of the 13
temporary staff, including
any other similar
appointments, and their
present position in the
university.
The university
has also been asked to
explain under whose
authority the persons
were initially appointed
and how they were made
permanent, along with
supportive documentary
evidence. Staff members
had pointed out that 13
temporary office staff,
some of them graduates
reduction in traffic
congestion.”
Moreover, he
said, voice announcers
would be introduced in
buses, which were
initially installed in 55
buses running in 21G and
70 routes, to meet the
international standards,
on par with the Intelligent
Bus Transport Service.
While noting
that the MTC h as
planned to operate 4,000
buses by next year,
Sarangi said that all old
buses would be replaced
by March 2010. “About
1,100 new buses will be
introduced in the next
year, while 1,000 buses
would be taken off the
roads in a phased
manner.”
When asked
March 04, 2009
More awareness needed on
vascular disease
Chennai, March 04: here on Tuesday. procedure opened out the
Bench said that it would
Around seven “A few decades block completely.
allow encroachers to
percent of people with ago there was no option Failure rates of
contact within a week,
diabetes may potentially for people who these procedures, said Dr
the Chief Planner
develop peripheral developed gangrene for M i c h e l H e n r y, a n
(Enforcement) Cell of the
vascular diseases where instance, except interventional vascular
CMDA, who would
arteries in their body are amputation. therapist is only about 5 to
provide to the individual
blocked leading to a E v e n t o d a y, 10 percent. “Surgery
encroachers the details
constriction of blood flow. between 10 and 20 per should only be indicated
a b o u t t h e
If this happens cent of cases we see for cases such as these
encroachments made by
in an artery of the heart or cannot be helped when there is a failure of
them. Thereafter, a
brain, the person suffers because they come too th e a n g i o p l a s t y. T h e
period of two weeks
a heart attack or a stroke. late,’’ he said. problem is that there are
would be given to the
But there are chances of However, with often no symptoms of
encroachers to remove
blockage in every artery improvements in peripheral vascular
the encroachments on
of the body leaving t e c h n o l o g y, o n c e disease, which is why it is
their own.
people vulnerable and diagnosed, the patient essential to check those at
uninformed about the does not even need to a risk for it very regularly,’’
-Agencies
consequences. have a surgery. he said.
Awareness on “ W i t h Keep walking,
the peripheral vascular e n d o v a s c u l a r stop smoking,’’ is the motto
diseases and regular procedures, the process Dr Sekar advocates as
check-ups, especially for
those with diabetes and
is minimally invasive and
does not require a long
stopping tobacco is the first
step to both preventing and
hypertension are
essential, said Prof N
hospital stay,’’ he said,
describing the case of a
treating these diseases.
The longer people have
Sekar, senior consultant 50-year-old man with a diabetes, the more at risk
and post graduates, had vascular surgeon at the block in an artery in his they are, he said.
been made permanent. Apollo Hospital, while leg. After an angiogram,
Apparently, they were addressing a gathering an endovascular -Agencies
over qualified for the job.
A look at the list of the
absorbed staff also
showed that nine of the
13 temporary staff had
joined in 2006, after the
Vice Chancellor of the
U n i v e r s i t y, P r o f S
Ramachandran, took
charge.
-Agencies
about the dilapidated
condition of certain bus
terminuses, the
Secretary said that steps
were being initiated to
give a face-lift for five
terminuses such as
Ambattur, Foreshore
Estate, Mogappair West,
Tiruvamiyur and
Vadapalani. Since most
of the bus depots are
running out of space, the
Corporation has been
engaged in identifying
land for the new depots.
R a m a
Subramanian, Managing
Director of MTC, said that
the administration is in
the process of identifying
land at Chemmanchery,
P a d a p a i a n d
Medavakkam.
Sarangi also
said that the patronage of
passengers to MTC has
increased by 25 per cent,
where the daily average
of commuters using
buses in Chennai stood
at 50 lakh passengers per
day.
-Agencies
March 04, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper
SRM University opens up new
vistas in Hotel Management
Chennai, March 04:
Chennai based
SRM University, will
launch Under-Graduate
and Post-Graduate
courses in Hotel
Management from the
Photo S. Mohan
academic year 2009-10, its
Vice-Chancellor P
Sathyanarayanan said on
Tuesday
Ta l k i n g t o
newspersons here, after
the inauguration of
'Connoisseurs-2009', an
International Workshop on
To u r i s m a n d S w i s s
Culinary Arts, jointly
organised by the SRM
Institute of Hotel
Management and the
Switzerland-based
International Hotel
Management Institute
(IMI), he said the University
has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU)
with the Swiss-based
Metropolitan University for
this purpose.
Observing that
Switzerland was known for
culinary art skills and
hospitality industry, Prof
Sathyanarayanan said the
three-year B.Sc course
would be a dual-degree
programme, under which
Facial search on
Bharatmatrimony.com
Chennai, Mar 4 :
BharatMatrimony.
com, a matrimony portal,
has launched 'Facial
Search', a 'pathbreaking'
feature based on state-of-
the-art face recognition
technology.
Members can
now upload photos of their
long awaited dream person
and the ''Facial Search'' will
lead them to profiles of
members with resembling
facial characteristics.
The state-of-the-
students from the SRM
University would take
their first three
semesters at home and
attend their last semester
at the Metropolitan
University.
A f t e r
completing the final
semester, the students
would be given dual-
degree by the SRM
University after a six-
month internship
p r o g r a m m e i n
Switzerland.
Students would
also be given campus
placement after
completing their final
semester in Metropolitan
University, he added.
On the contrary,
under the two-year MBA
course, students would
study the first six-months
at SRM and proceed to
Switzerland to complete
the rest of their course.
The intake for
the under-graduate
course would be about
150 and 50 students for
MBA, he said.
P r o f
Sathyanarayanan said
students would also be
art face recognition
technology works on the
dimensions of a face,
measures distances
between the features,
and matches it with
p h o t o s
BharatMatrimony.
I n t e r e s t i n g l y,
one can search from the
new and existing list of
BharatMatrimony
members for profiles with
the most sought after
celebrities facial
features.
Page 3
Tourism-harbinger of harmony,
purveyor of peace: Tamil Nadu Tourism
sent to Metropolitan Chennai, Mar 4 : Tamil University campus in his life to understand the
University under the Nadu Tourism Secretary s u b u r b a n culture of other. Wide
SRM's semester abroad V Irai Anbu on Tuesday Kattankulathur, he said a travelling will help the
programme, to provide said tourism was a person, who could travel people know that all human
international exposure to harbinger of harmony and more could develop beings are alike''.
them. ''The human
nature is same,
whether you are
an Indian or a
foreigner. Only
the language,
complexion,
customs and
individual
mannerisms
change. The
body language
is the same,'' he
added.
Stating
that tourism
could act as a
medium of
enriching one's
talent of the
individual, Mr
Irai Anbu said
Photo S. Mohan ''Tourism is a
harbinger of
harmony and
purveyor of peace. t o l e r a n c e , m a t u r i t y, purveyor of peace''.
Inaugurating compassion and Noting that
'Connoisseurs 09', a understanding. tourism has sparked off
three-day International In this context, efforts in conservation of
workshop on Tourism and the theme of the various species of birds
IMI Vice- Swiss culinary arts jointly w o r k s h o p ' To u r i s m and flora and fauna, the
President and Vice- organised by the SRM Brings Harmony and Tourism Secretary, citing
Chairman of the Board of Institute of Hotel Peace' was quite various instances, said
Directors Carmel Michael Management and the appropriate in the current about 100 varieties of the
Switzerland-based scenario. total 908 bird species had
Fsadni, who was also
International Hotel Mr Irai Anbu become extinct.
present said IMI, which Management Institute said ''A person should - Bureau Report
was recognised world- (IMI) at the SRM travel at least 15 years in
wide, was happy to be
associated with the SRM
University and said the
MoU would be beneficial
to both the students and
the faculty.
D r. A n t o n y
Ashok Kumar Principal of
the Institute of Hotel
Management SRM
University said that, the
university will also offer
Doctoral programmes in
Hotel management in the
next two years.
E a r l i e r
university registrar Prof
Sethuraman welcomed
the gathering and
officials from the institute
and other visiting faculty
were present on the
occasion.
- Staff Reporter
Mr Murugavel
Janakiraman, Founder &
CEO yesterday said
''now, our members can
find a potential partner
based on their
o n preferences for facial
appearance thus
unlocking the wealth of
information that is hidden
away in photos. Not
s u r p r i s i n g l y, m a n y
members are using this
to search for celebrity
look-alikes''.
-Agencies
Page 4
PM holds first official
engagement after surgery
New Delhi, Mar 04:
Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh today
held his first official
engagement more than a
month after he underwent
a bypass surgery when he
met President of the West
African nation of Benin, Dr
Boni Yayi, and discussed
bilateral, regional and
international situation.
The Prime
Minister met the Benin
President, who arrived
here last night on a five-
day State visit at his official
7 Race Course Road
residence.
D r S i n g h
underwent a coronary
bypass surgery on January
24 and has not had any
official engagement since
then, although he has been
attending some urgent
official work at home.
Dr Yayi, who is
visiting India at the
invitation of President
Pratibha Devisingh Patil, is
accompanied by a 34-
member delegation which
includes three Ministers,
senior officials and
representatives of the
Chambers of Commerce
and Industry. ''The
visit, after a gap of more
than 25 years, represents
a significant landmark in
India-Benin bilateral
relations,'' an External
Affairs Ministry
Kashmiri Pandits are integral
part of J&K: Omar
Jammu, March 04:
Kashmiri Pandits,
whose sense of security
was snatched in the '90s,
are an integral part of the
state and their return to the
valley would be possible
only when they again begin
to feel safe, Jammu and
Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah has said.
The sense of
security was snatched from
them in 90's and only
"when this sense is
restored, their return to the
valley will start", Omar said
yesterday during the
motion of thanks on the
governor's address in the
legislative council.
T h e C h i e f
Minister said that although
the Mumbai terror attacks
have adversely affected
Indo-Pak bilateral ties,
good relations between the
two neighbours are
important for lasting peace
in the region.
The government
is open to dialogue with all
shades of opinion and
ready to facilitate it at other
forums, he said.
Recalling the
earlier initiatives by his
father Farooq Abdullah to
break the ice between the
Times Chennai E-Paper National March 04, 2009
Two-day media workshop of
Congress ended on Tuesday
spokesman said. Niger. New Delhi, March 04: T is an interactive session instantly.
The Beninese Members of He two-day with political, technical Speakers also
President will also call on NAM, India and Benin media workshop of and economic issues," briefed the delegates on
Congress concluded on AICC spokesman the differences between
the President. have traditionally enjoy
Tuesday with senior Abhishek Singhvi had how to respond to a print
Vice-President friendly relations. Both party leaders giving earlier told reporters media journalist and a
Hamid Ansari, External countries share a media management tips here. television journalist.
Affairs Minister Pranab commonality of views on to party spokespersons, It being a Ahluwalia briefed the
Mukherjee and Leader of major international CLP leaders and party question and answer delegates about the
the Opposition L K issues such as UN presidents of various session, the delegates "achievements" of the
Advani will also call on Reforms and combating states. put many questions on government and its various
him. international terrorism. O n t h e how to respond to media schemes.
T h e Benin has concluding day, External queries, programmes Earlier on the first
Confederation of Indian supported India's Affairs Minister Pranab and policies as well as day, senior leaders Salman
Industry (CII), Federation candidature for Mukherjee, Home the events related to the Khurshid, Abhishek
of Chambers of permanent membership Minister P Chidambaram party. Singhvi, Planning
Commerce and Industry on an expanded UNSC. and Deputy Chairman of T h e Commission member
(FICCI) and Associated India has in the Planning Commission spokespersons were Balachandra Mungekar,
Montek Singh Ahluwalia asked to be crisp and Union Ministers Meira
Chambers of Commerce past gifted 100 tractors among others addressed short in their answers. Kumar and Kapil Sibal
and Industry of India and agricultural the delegates. They were also asked to along with former Home
(ASSOCHAM) are jointly implements and "This is a n remain informed of the Minister Shivraj Patil spoke
organising an interaction extended a 18.8 million exchange of ideas with latest issues so that they on different issues.
with the Indian business dollar Line of Credit for the spokespersons. This can answer the queries -Agencies
community for the visiting rural electrification to that
Beninese delegation.
The delegation
country.
Benin has also
Irretrievable breakdown of marriage
will also visit Agra,
Mumbai and Bangalore.
subscribed to the Duty
Free Tariff Preference
no ground for divorce: SC
In Mumbai the Indo- (DFTP) Scheme New Delhi, March 04 : "Section 13 of the legal position which we
African Chamber of announced by India in Irretrievable the Hindu Marriage Act, have mentioned above,
Commerce and Industry April 2008. India's breakdown of marriage is 1955 provides for several and hence they are not
no ground for divorce for grounds for granting precedents. A mere
is organising one-to-one bilateral trade with Benin
those married under the divorce e.g. cruelty, direction of the court
business meetings. In is currently 350 million Hindu Marriage Act adultery, desertion etc. without considering the
Bangalore, the dollars. because the law does not but no such ground of legal position is not a
delegation will visit Benin was recognise it, the irretrievable breakdown precedent."
Infosys and Avasthagen included in the first group Supreme Court has of the marriage has been "If we grant divorce on the
(bio-tech company). of countries in the ruled. mentioned for granting ground of irretrievable
A m u l t i - Government of India's Dismissing a divorce," the bench breakdown, then we shall
religious, multi-ethnic Pan-African e-network Hindu husband's plea for noted. by judicial verdict be adding
society and a multi-party project, which was divorce, a bench of "On a bare reading of a clause to Section 13 of
democracy, Benin, home officially inaugurated by Justices Markandey Section 13 of the Act, it is the act to the effect that
to 9.3 million people is the External Affairs Katju and V S Sirpurkar crystal clear that no such irretrievable breakdown of
located in West Africa Minister last week. stated that the Hindu ground of irretrievable the marriage is also a
and borders Nigeria, Marriage Act, 1955, did breakdown of the ground for divorce. In our
Togo, Burkina Faso and -Agencies n o t r e c o g n i s e marriage is provided by opinion, this can only be
"irretrievable breakdown" the legislature for done by the legislature and
as ground for the granting a decree of not by the court," the bench
dissolution of marriage.
The bench said
divorce," the bench said.
If the apex court
said.
"It is for the parliament to
no court, including the had in the past issued a enact or amend the law and
apex court, was decree for divorce on the not for the courts," it added.
empowered to issue a ground of "irretrievable The court was adjudicating
two countries by T h e decree for divorce on the breakdown," it might an appeal by a Delhi
facilitating talks and four government would again ground of "irretrievable have done so wrongly, resident, who had first gone
months of truce during work for restoring the breakdown" of marriage the bench said. to the lower court for a
t h e V a j p a y e e dialogue process and as it would amount to The bench divorce on the grounds of
government, Omar said initiate political measures amending the Hindu made this observation as his wife's alleged cruel
they were a good to resolve all issues Marriage Act by judicial the counsel for the behaviour towards him.
beginning which needs to pertaining to Jammu and verdict and adding husband pleaded for As the lower court and later
be taken to its logical Kashmir, he said. "irretrievable breakdown" divorce to his client, the Delhi High Court
conclusion. -Agencies of marriage as a new saying that the apex court dismissed his plea, finding
ground for divorce. had in several cases that it was he who had been
World Conference on 'Tobacco A law can be
amended only by
issued the decree of
divorce on the ground of
subjecting his wife to
cruelty, he moved the apex
legislature and not by " i r r e t r i e v a b l e court pleading irretrievable
or health' from March 8 judicial verdict, the bench
said in its ruling that was
breakdown."
It rejected the contention
breakdown of his marriage
and saying that his wife had
Mumbai, March 04: pronounced on February saying: "In our opinion, not spent more than 25
The 14th World Conference on "Tobacco or 27 but released on those cases have not days with him.
Health" will be held in the city from March 8 to highlight Tuesday. taken into consideration -Agencies
the growing menace of tobacco use.
The conference will showcase the problems
caused due to tobacco use, P C Gupta, president of the
Hotel booking facilities for Rajdhani passengers soon
conference, told reporters here. Kolkata March 04: Talks were on expect some loyalty from
"This will give us an opportunity to focus on Passengers for tie-ups with other the passengers now."
the complex tobacco problem in the country, which has travelling on Howrah- economy hotels and He said surveys
the largest spectrum of tobacco products - from New Delhi Rajdhani retiring rooms at other were constantly been
industrial ones like gutkha to custom-made products Express would now have destinations, Krishan carried out to find out the
the option of booking a said, adding similar tie- demands of the
like betel quid," Gupta said. hotel along with their ups with luxury hotels passengers. “Some want
The event will discuss various policy aspects railway ticket with could be considered if Rajdhani to leave here at 7
of tobacco control - economic, health and Eastern Railway tying up passengers so pm to reach New Delhi at 8
environment. with a hotel in New Delhi. demanded. Asked am the next day. For that,
Since its introduction in 1966, the conference "Rajdhani passengers whether the slashing of we need to fence a large
is held every two-to-three years in different countries, who want to stay in Delhi airfare following stretch of the route for high
Padmini Somani, Salaam Bombay Foundation, which overnight can now get reduction in ATF prices speed. This could be done
will be hosting the event, said. their hotel booking along would see a drop in at almost zero cost if the
"Eleven conferences have been held in with their railway ticket. Rajdhani fares to keep it State governments come
developed countries and two in developing countries. We have tied up with competitive, Krishan said forward to help," Krishan
Ginger Hotel in New fares of the Rajdhani had said after flagging Howrah-
Last year it was held in China," Somani said. Delhi," ER General not been hiked when New Delhi Rajdhani
The event will witness more than 600 participants, 250 Manager Deepak there was a airfare rise in Express on its 40th
international speakers and 2000 delegates from over Krishan told reporters. the past. "We, therefore anniversary run on
130 countries. Tuesday.
March 04, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper
TV soaps, coverage of news making
children insensitive: Madhavan
New Delhi, Mar 4
Television today
may have brought an
information revolution in the
country but the fiction shows
and the coverage of news on
the small screen is
increasingly making children
insensitive, film actor
Madhavan says.
‘’The satellite
revolution in the country and
the accompanying
proliferation of TV channels
has led to a lot of
dissemination of knowledge.
Infact, it is because of these
TV channels that a lot of
things have come to light as
we saw in the film ‘Rang De
Basanti’ and has led to a lot
of corrective steps.
At the same time, I
feel that the coverage of
news on television today
leaves much to be
desired,’’Madhavan said at a
news conference in the
Capital last evening.
Madhavan, who
was in the Capital to promote
his new film ’13 B’, a
supernatural thriller
revolving around the harmful
impact TV has on human life
today, said unlike a few
years ago, the TV channels’
coverage of news included
the depiction of many
graphic scenes from the site
of accidents, fire or blasts.
‘’Unfortunately
today, news channels are
not just content with
presenting news. They also
want to show the close ups
of the scene of the incident
like bodies splattered in
blood or gauging the
reaction of members of the
family involved in an
accident. I do not
understand this and do not
see why we need to do this. I
feel it is important to give
news but at the same time
the manner in which it is
disemminated is also
important.
Today I cannot
watch news on TV with my
eight-year-old son as there
are so many graphic scenes
on news channels. In this
A cemetery that brought tourism to life
Montevideo, March 04:
As night falls in
the Montevideo Central
Cemetery, the city's oldest,
dozens of expectant faces
wait outside its gates,
ready to enter this realm of
death to see it in a new
way: that of the necro-
tourist.
Curiosity seekers
of all types and ages were
attracted by this project of
the Montevideo city
government, which
launched this week the first
of its guided tours that will
periodically visit the oldest
public necropolis of the
Uruguayan capital.
Built in 1835 and expanded
between 1860 and 1868,
the central cemetery was
conceived as a garden
promenade surrounded by
trees and funerary
monuments where "it was
usual to see people out for
sense, I feel the news and
its coverage on TV is
making children
insensitive,’’ Madhavan
said.
He said the
onset of the satellite
revolution had led to loss
of childhood for kids.
’When I look
back, I consider myself
fortunate that I have had a
lovely childhood - climbing
on trees, stealing
mangoes and many a time
breaking my legs in the
process. I feel sad that my
son will never be able to
enjoy all this. Infact, I
wonder whether he is
aware of all these
pleasures that chiuldhood
brings with it. Because of
living in cities and ther
onset of television,
evenings of children are
mostly spent watching on
television. Consequently,
even the habit of children
going out to play in the
evenings is fast dying
out,’’the actor said.
Talking about his
latest film ’13 B’,
Madhavan, who was
accompanied by Neetu
Chandra, his co-star in the
film, said, ’’it is a
supernatural thriller which
deals with the relationship
that viewers share with
television today. It is about
the change in the TV
watching habits of people
over the years wherein
television, more than an
electrical appliance, has
become a companion,
especially for the women
in the house for whom the
day starts with TV and
ends with it. In fact, elders
in the house are seen to
develop a relationship with
characters of the serials.
What if the TV
realises the power it wields
over family members and
begins to take control.
What happens when
instead of showing you the
facts, the TV begins to
show you what it wants
you to see.
a stroll", said one of the
guides of this odd
itinerary, professor of art
history Marta Sirtori.
Almost 30
visitors were in the group
that Sirtori led on this tour
to the music of a
women's quartet playing
violin, cello, flute and
oboe at different points
around the cemetery.
Together with
religious objects like
crosses or images of
Jesus, the funerary
symbolism of the place
includes anchors,
considered icons of
salvation, poppies,
narcotic flowers that
"lead to eternal sleep",
and figures representing
"old age and the passing
of time" such as
hourglasses, Sirtori said.
The angels,
intermediaries between
News You Can Use
That is what the
film is all about.’’ Clarifying
that it was not a horror film,
Madhavan said, ’’when
one thinks of the word
thriller, one assumes the
film will have scary faces
and ghosts. However,
there is nothing of this sort
in ’13 B’. It is a
supernatural thriller and
not a horror film.’’ About his
role in the film, Madhavan
said, ’’I play a middle-class
guy who is not the hero
type. He has just entered
an exciting phase of his
life. He has just married
and brought a house. The
family is looking forward to
an exciting life in a new
building where they have a
house on the 13th floor.
Then something happens
that threatenes his family.
The film is about how he
saves his family from the
threat.’’ Talking about her
role in ’13 B’, Neetu said, ’’I
play a housewife. She is a
very coy, shy kind of
female who is stuck to
television like any other
female in the house and
how she realises that the
television set has become
a danger to her family.’’
She said that though the
role was closer to real life,
it had elements of both
glamour as well as real life.
Directed by
National award winning
director Vikram K Kumar, a
former assistant to South
Indian filmmaker
Priyadasrshan, ’13 B’
releases on March 6 in
Hindi and Tamil versions.
While the Hindi version is
titled ’13 B’, the Tamil
version is titled ‘Yaavarum
Nalam’.
The film also
features Poonam Dhillon,
Murali Sharma, Sachin
K h e d e k a r, S a n j a i h
Bokaria, Deepak Dobriyal,
Amitha, Sharanya &
Dhritiman Chaterjee. The
music of the film has been
s c o r e d b y S h a n k a r,
Ehsaan and Loy.
- Agencies
heaven and earth that
"help man ascend",
share the scene with
Masonic symbols like the
square and compass,
and decorations of a
military nature "in line
with ancient Greece and
Rome", the guide said.
"Bringing
attention to funerary art"
is, according to Sirtori,
the goal of this cultural
project, on which "we're
working with great
respect and affection for
the people buried here,
our fellow citizens".
Among the
interested visitors,
Marina, 13, took every
possible chance to slip
away from the crowd for
a moment and take
pictures with her digital
camera of the sculptural
forms that clothe the
dead.
Tradition making comeback in
Indian home decor
New Delhi, March 4:
How about a
slice of Lord Krishna's
Vrindavan or a touch of the
Buckingham Palace in
your living room? The
decor in high-end Indian
homes across metros,
especially in the capital, is
going back to tradition after
years of dabbling in the
utility and Spartan chic of
contemporary West.
Two exclusive
lifestyle retail spaces point
to the trend. These are
Good Earth in Delhi's
Saket area which has
adapted traditional
designs from medieval
India and Elitaire in
Faridabad which has been
inspired by the royal
palaces of Europe.
T h e y a r e
targeting the high-end
home market segment of
the 'aesthetic elite' with a
price sweep of Rs.500 to
Rs.500,000.
Good Earth, a
national lifestyle accessory
chain, has put together an
exhibition of home
accessories by five
designers that combined
Indian resonance with an
international appeal. Titled
'India Modern', it is on
display at the 18,000-
square foot Flagship,
Good Earth's maiden store
at Saket in the capital.
'In a resurgent
India, the rich cultural
heritage is getting layered
with a contemporary global
relevance. This duality has
given rise to a new
aesthetic that draws from
history to create modern
perspectives suitable for
contemporary living. The
highlight this year at the
Delhi store is the
Vrindavan collection,' Anita
Lal, creative director of
Good Earth, told news
agencies
She said the
store picks up one
collection every year,
which is usually an
'interpretation of any part of
history and culture from
India.
'The Vrindavan
"It's a good idea
to visit a cemetery this
way," Marina said before
photographing the steps
on one of the granite
tombs exemplifying the
"new" funerary art, "with
much cleaner, simpler
lines" as Sirtori describes
it.
“Today's art is
not overly ornate as it
was in the 18th and 19th
centuries," the expert
said, for whom the value
of the cemetery lies as
m u c h i n " t h e
personalities" buried
here - such as Francisco
Acuna de Figueroa,
composer of the
Uruguayan national
anthem - as it does in the
works of art it holds.
American Edward
Murray was the first to be
buried with a tombstone
collection celebrates the
harmony between man
and nature - the story of
Lord Krishna and his days
in Vrindavan where he
played with his consort
Radha.'
'We have just
taken the symbolic aspects
of Vrindavan - like the
motifs of the flora and
fauna, the peacock, the
cows, the lotus and the
lamps - minus the gods
and goddesses to give the
collection an international
look,' Lal said.
The collection
features 'kamalinis' or lotus
showpieces, lotus stools in
brass and beaten silver,
ornate candle stands
shaped like medieval wall
panels from Vrindavan
homes, peacock and
cowherd wall hangings in
brass, fluted flower pots,
Mughal minarets and
geometrical tables inlaid
with mother of pearls,
abalone and malachite.
The Vrindavan
furniture is complemented
by Vrindavan Chenille
cushions and the Neeltara
cushions in silk and velvet,
trimmed with satin 'mashru'
weave and embroidery.
Mashru is a
traditional silk and cotton
weave from Kutch, printed
in the Ajrakh technique
using natural dyes.
A dining table
laid with 'kansa' ware (an
alloy of tin and copper) and
collections of cutleries like
the 'tia pakhi' (parrot) from
Bengal, the Rasa or
marigold range from
central India, the Periyar
Indus Rajah from Kerala
and Baradari collection
from the Mughal era add to
the Brajbhumi look.
Designer Vikram
Goel, the man behind the
Vrindavan collection, said
the designs debuted at a
Good Earth
exhibition in Mumbai in
2008.
'I tried to recreate
the motifs of peacocks,
cows, lotuses and trees as
depicted in the pichwais
(traditional Vrindavan
in the Montevideo
C e n t r a l C e m e t e r y,
whose memorials are
basically of marble,
granite and bronze.
Now rich in monuments
and sculptures, the
graves in the central area
were all the necropolis
had until the installation
of a Galician stone cross
brought in the 19th
century by Luis
Fernandez, a one-time
resident of Montevideo.
Then came the 1863
work of Genoese artist
Lavarello, which
represents a recumbent
dead wife looked upon
by her handsome,
elegantly dressed
husband.
Felix Morelli and Jose
Livi are other Italian
artists who left their mark
on the central cemetery,
Page 5
paintings and texts) to suit
new awareness. I love the
diverse techniques of
metals,' Goel told IANS.
The collection is
also a tribute to the dying art
of metal crafting and a bid at
revival.
'The clutter is
going out of home decor and
they are becoming more
realistic,' artist Subodh
Gupta told IANS at the
opening of the store.
'Interiors are going back to
roots and I just love the
heritage look,' he explained.
On the other hand,
Faridabad-based Elitaire
goes back to medieval
Europe. The home decor
retail store spread across
2,000 square metres at the
Interiorz Mall has recreated
replicas of six European
palaces for Indian drawings
rooms.
'Our collections
combine opulence with
contemporary convenience.
The idea behind recreating
the palace themes was to
offer buyers something more
than luxury - a slice of
heritage, which they can
p r e s e r v e , ' K . V. R a o ,
chairman of the Dolphin
Group, which owns Elitaire,
told news agencies
According to him,
the high-end retail space is
commercially viable
because the 'recession has
not been able to dent the
luxury lifestyle segment'.
The home themes
- featuring complete rooms
with period furniture,
accessories and lights -
include the 16th century
Rosenberg Castle,
Buckingham Palace, Castle
of Prague, Castle of Sans
Souci in Prussia, Palace of
Wilanow of the Dutch royal
family and the Palace of
Versailles from the era of
Louis XIV.
The accessories
drawn from 82 leading
design houses from across
Europe are a blend of the
grand baroque, the romantic
French Rococo and the
austere neo-classicism of
British royalty.
-Agencies
where there are also works
by local artists like Jose
Luis Zorrilla de San Martin
and Jose Belloni.
The speed with which the
100 tickets were sold out
for this day of necro-
tourism in the central
cemetery was much
appreciated by Sirtori, who
expected no such
response for a project that
is new to Montevideo but
has been done for years in
cities like Paris and
Buenos Aires.
On March 12 and 26, this
tour of the dead will be
repeated, something that
the city government hopes
to continue on two
Thursdays out of every
month, at least until May
since - as a web site says -
"it provides a different
approach to the nation's
history and culture".
Page 6
Tata Chemicals honours J N Tata:
commissioning of Babrala plant
New Delhi, Mar 4
Tata Chemicals
Ltd, a leading manufacturer
of chemicals, fertilisers and
food additives, announced
the commissioning of the
'de-bottlenecking' of its
Babrala facility in Uttar
Pradesh with production
capacity increase from
8,64,600 tonnes to
11,55,000 tonnes and plans
to double this capacity in the
near future.
Executive Director
Tata Chemicals Kapil Mehan
told a press conference here
that 'de-bottlenecking' meant
that eliminating the cobwebs
in setting up and
operationalisation of the
plant. Babrala is roughly four
hours drive from the national
capital.
Mr Mehan said the
total investment entailing the
Babrala facility is of the order
of Rs 208 crore.
The project,
completed in a record time of
18 months, was aimed at fine
tuning and enhancing
production capabilities,
thereby expanding the
existing production levels.
Times Chennai E-Paper
Mr Mehan said
he was not in a position to
set a timeline for doubling
of the new capacity, but
added that was the goal
the company has set for
itself.
T h a facilities relating to the
announcement of the
commissioning of the
upgraded facility was done
in the capital with the
initiative being dedicated
to the Group Founder J N
Tata on the occasion of the
Founders' Day.
Mr Mehan said
the increased growth of
production ''draws impetus
to the company's
commitment of providing
high quality products for its
discerning customers''.
Post the de-
bottlenecking process, the
new production capacity at
the plant will be as follows:
the Ammonia plant will
produce 2,000 MTPD as
compared to 1,520 MTPD;
and the Urea plant will
produce 3,500 MTPD as
compared to 2,620 MTPD.
Established in
1939 at Mithapur, TCL is
Business
the second largest
producer of soda ash in the
world with manufacturing
facilities across four
continents.
Mr Mehan said
the company's overseas
production of soda ash
have been impacted more
than the Indian facility by
the global turmoil.
He said in terms
of costs and profitability
the Indian plant fares as
well as the overseas
ventures relating to soda
ash production, largely
because of the price of
gas.
In reply to a
question, Mr Mehan
favoured continuing
support to Indian farmers
by way of subsidies and
higher MSP in the wake of
the slowdown, adding that
this will also keep the sales
of fertilisers going.
In this regard, he
said farmers from the
United States and the
European Union have
been hit worse due to the
global meltdown than the
Indian farmer and it was
likely that these countries
may enhance the level of
subsidy to their farmers.
It was thus
incumbent on the Indian
government to continue
support to the farming
community.
-Agencies
March 04, 2009
Audi sales increase 95% for Feb;
to introduce new modals
New Delhi, Mar 4 sale of 1,050 units, it added.
Audi India today The Audi model
said its sales for February
has witnessed an increase
of 95 per cent with sales of
113 units as compared to
58 units in the
corresponding period last
year.
' ' To g a i n
additional market share we
are looking forward to
introducing new models
and expanding our
dealerships network to range comprising the new
mini-metro cities this year,'' Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8,
Company Managing Audi Q7, Audi TT and Audi
Director Benoit Tiers said R8 is available in the country
in a statement. across twelve dealerships .
In the year 2008
the company had a total -Agencies

Assocham wants importers

of fake products blacklisted
New Delhi, Mar 4:
Claiming that only
five per cent of fake imports
are detected in India, an
industry chamber today
suggested a slew of
measures to curb the
menace, including
blacklisting importers of
counterfeit products.
Assocham said
fake and counterfeit imports
comprise software, fast
moving consumer goods
(FMCG), music, films, toys,
cigarettes, textiles and life
saving drugs.
It identified Delhi
downtown, Ghaziabad,
M e e r u t , S a h a r a n p u r,
Aligarh, Sonepat, Loni,
Bulandshahar and
Chandigarh in northern India
where sale of fake products
is reported to be higher.
In a representation
to the Finance Ministry and
Customs department, the
chamber suggested
modifications to Border
Measures and Regulations
and Intellectual Property
Rules to check import of fake
and counterfeit products.
This has become
imperative as the current
governmental tools are
aimed more at intimidating
such importers than to bring
them to book, said Hemant
Singh, chairman of the
c h a m b e r ’s i n t e l l e c t u a l
property rights committee.
Importers of fake
and counterfeit products
avoid participating in
proceedings against them
w h e n e v e r t h e i r
consignments are seized by
customs because current
rules help them do so, he
added.
For want of
adequate manpower and
coordination with port
authorities, customs are
able to physically check
only about 15 per cent of
the country’s total imports,
resulting in only five per
cent detection of fake
products, Assocham said.
The industry
chamber said importers of
fake products are not only
individuals or group of
individuals margin but also
well established
companies who indulge in
the malpractice to earn
higher profits.
Assocham
suggested recruitment of
competent and
experienced people by
Customs to increase
surveillance to improve
rate of detection of fake
imports and punishment to
those found guilty.
C u s t o m s
Commissioner should do
away with the requirement
of multiple filings for
multiple IP even if it
requires additional fee by
importers, it said, adding
National Academy of
Customs should modify
existing IP rights as well as
trade marks and copyright.
Importers found
violating IP rules should be
dealt with iron hands and
should be forced to join
proceedings in a manner
that they can not abandon
their consignments in the
event of seizure.
Punishment to
those found guilty should
be heavy to act as
deterrent against the
malpractice, it added.
- Agencies
March 04, 2009
SL cricketers arrive home
amid tight security
Colombo, Mar 04:
Sri Lanka's
wounded and shaken
cricketers flew into
Colombo under tight
security early on
Wednesday, less than a
day after a deadly ambush
targeting the team in
Pakistan, an airport official
said.
Relieved relatives
gave the tour party an
emotional welcome as the
25-member contingent
was led from a specially
chartered Sri Lankan
Airlines Airbus A320 by
Not all host cities would
have polls throughout: Modi
Macau, March 04:
Whilst exuding
confidence over
successfully holding the
second installment of the
Indian Premier League,
league’s commissioner
Lalit Modi said that they
would certainly review the
dates to ensure that there
is at least a 48 hour
cushion between the
match-day and the
election-day at any of the 8
host cities.
“The general
election is a six-week long
affair lasting till May 16,” he
told a newspaper. “That
does not mean that all the
cities hosting IPL matches
will be busy with polling
activities throughout this
period.”
The IPL has
begun a security review
meet in wake of the recent
Lahore attacks.
Citing a case
study example, Modi said:
“Let us consider the
example of Mumbai, which
goes to polls on April 30. So
we will try and not have
anything in Mumbai on the
day before the polling date,
on that day and if required
even the day after.”
Modi said that the
IPL representatives would
Times Chennai E-Paper
team manager Brendon
Kuruppu.
Star batsman
Thilan Samaraweera and
T h a r a n g a
Paranavithana, who both
received hospital
treatment in Pakistan,
were placed in an
ambulance and taken to
a private medical facility
in Colombo, a senior
official said.
Spin bowler Ajantha
Mendis was seen leaving
the aircraft with a plaster
behind his right ear. A
hold talks with the
government regarding
the issue in the coming
days. “We are sensitive
to the fact when there is a
need at a particular
venue because of
elections and we’ll
ensure full cooperation.”
“We will discuss
t h i s w i t h t h e
government,” he said.
Modi said that
such a scenario had
been kept in mind while
the itinerary for IPL
Season 2 was being
drawn. “We did see this
coming. That is precisely
why we had increased
the number of kits and
crews for this year’s
tournament. During the
player auctions, I had
personally announced
this and our plans to have
matches in catchment
areas also. We have a lot
more to choose from in
case any particular
venue cannot host a
match on a particular
day.”
In the aftermath
of the terror attack on Sri
Lankan cricketers in
Lahore on Tuesday, Modi
insisted that security
would be paramount
during the Twenty20
Sports
total of seven players
and an assistant coach
were hurt in the attack,
which left eight people
dead.
Vice-captain
Kumar Sangakkara, who
was another wounded in
Tu e s d a y ' s g u n a n d
grenade assault, told
reporters that the players
had been asked by team
management not to
speak with reporters.
Sports Minister
Gamini Lokuge also met
t h e t e a m a t
B a n d a r a n a i k e
International Airport,
where security was tight,
the official said.
There has been
no claim of responsibility
for the attack, but some
Sri Lankan officials fear a
possible link with the
military offensive against
ethnic Tamil rebels in the
island's north.
Sri Lankan
team was airlifted from
Gaddafi Stadium by
helicopter before flying
out of Lahore late on
Tuesday, abandoning a
tour which was only
arranged when India
refused to visit.
-Agencies
extravaganza and
assured franchises that
the BCCI and IPL would
be solely responsible for
it.
“Franchisees
need not bother about
security, it’s a central
issue and we’ll take all
precautions. The
government has been
stringent about security.”
Modi also refused to draw
parallels between the
security situations in
India and Pakistan.
“In Pakistan, the
fear factor has been
constant. In India, we
took adequate measures
to keep cricket away from
it.”
“ We h a v e a
weekend security
meeting with experts
from South Africa,” he
elaborated.
Meanwhile in
another interview to a TV
channel, BCCI member
IS Bindra said that while
the board would try to
c o n v i n c e t h e
Government, latter ’s
stand would be final.
“If the Home
Ministry says no, it just
can’t happen.”
-Agencies
Factbox: Details of SL cricketers
injured in attack
Lahore, March 04:
Five Sri Lankan
cricketers plus the
assistant coach were
wounded when around a
dozen gunmen attacked
their bus as it drove
War exposure helped team
react: Jayawardene
Colombo, March 04:
The Sri Lankan
cricket team's exposure
to the civil war back home
helped them react swiftly
when they were
ambushed by gunmen in
Pakistan, skipper Mahela
Jayawardene said on
Wednesday.
S e v e n
members of the team and
their assistant coach
were wounded in
Tu e s d a y ' s g u n a n d
grenade attack as they
travelled by bus to the
cricket stadium in
Lahore. Eight people
were killed in the assault.
"We have been brought
up in a background of
terrorist activities,"
Jayawardene
told reporters after
returning home at the
Govt to review security for Indian
Premier League
New Delhi, March 04:
T h e Two, scheduled during
repercussion of the
Lahore terror strikes on
Sri Lankan cricket team,
which left 5 players and a
reserve umpire injured,
seemed to have been felt
across the border as well
in India as well with
clouds of uncertainty
looming large over the
second edition of the
Indian Premier League.
Minister of
State for Home, Sri
Prakash Jaiswal said
that the Government
would review the security
measures to be deployed
during the IPL and that a
meeting with the BCCI
would be held over
possible postponement
of the IPL.
“We will review
the security for IPL,” he
said.
“Government
will hold a meeting with
the BCCI.”
under police escort on
Tuesday to a stadium in
the Pakistani city of
Lahore.
Following is a
list of the injured
players with brief
details of their
injuries according
to vice captain
K u m a r
Sangakkara, who
spoke to Reuters
by telephone
from Lahore.
M a h e l a
Jayawardena -
cut to ankle,
minor
K u m a r
international airport in
Colombo.
"We are used to
hearing, seeing these
things -- firing, bombings.
So we ducked under our
seats when the firing
began. It was like natural
instinct," he said.
Sri Lanka has
seen nearly four decades
of ethnic civil war with
Tamil Tiger rebels who
are fighting for a separate
homeland.
Jayawardene
said the players were
"shocked" and "mentally
down" after the horrifying
i n c i d e n t , a n d
acknowledged there was
a moment when he did
not think he would ever
make it back home.
" I a m a
Buddhist, and I think we
IPL’s Season
the months of April-May,
is set to clash with the
Lok Sabha elections.
In the aftermath
of the Lahore attacks, the
Home Ministry is in no
mood to compromise on
the issue of safety of
plethora of international
cricketers that would
descend to India for the 2
month Twenty20
extravaganza.
O n Tu e s d a y
itself, Home Minister P
Chidambram had raised
concerns of a possible
shortage of security
personals that may occur
in some centers if the two
high-profile events are
held simultaneously.
I P L Franchisees stand to lose
Commissioner Lalit Modi
had sought to assuage
Government’s concerns
by agreeing to re-adjust
IPL dates so as to
provide a 48 hour
Page 7
Sangakkara - shrapnel cut
to shoulder, minor
Ajantha Mendis -
shrapnel wound to back,
minor
T h a r a n g a
Paranavithana - shrapnel
wound to his chest, minor,
but went to hospital
T h i l a n
Samaraweera - worst
injured with what appeared
to be a shrapnel wound to
his leg. Taken to hospital,
but not seriously wounded.
Paul Farbrace
(assistant coach) -
shrapnel wound to his arm,
minor.
-Agencies
have done some merit in
our previous birth to
escape with minor injuries.
We want some time now to
be with our families," he
said.
The skipper said it
was too early to say if he or
anyone else on the team
would skip future tours of
Pakistan.
"We were not
aware of security lapses.
It's an unfortunate incident.
In hindsight, this could
have happened anywhere
in the world," he said.
"In the future, I
think all of us will step back
and look at the bigger
picture besides just touring
abroad, taking into account
our families," he said. "That
is something we will all do."
-Agencies
cushion between a match-
day and a polling day.
A n y
postponement of the IPL
would result in eventual
cancellation of the show
piece Twenty20 event as
there is no 2-month
window available on the
Future Tours Program
(FTP) formulated by the
ICC, for rest of the year.
The likely losses
if IPL is postponed are
Rs 300 cr: BCCI
stands to lose from
television sponsorship
Rs 100 cr: BCCI
stands to lose from on-
ground sponsorship
Rs 250 cr:
Broadcasters stand to lose
through ad revenues
Rs 15-20 cr:
from local sponsorship
R s 5 c r :
Franchisees stand to lose
per venue through losses
in gate money.
-Agencies
Page 8 Times Chennai E-Paper
Attack on Lankans: 10 suspects
arrested in Lahore
Lahore, March 04:
At least 10
suspects were arrested in
Lahore on Wednesday in
connection with the attack
on Sri Lankan cricketers in
the city on Tuesday, TV
reports say.
According to
Times Now TV Channel ,
four of these suspects are
Afghanis. The channel also
quoted Pakistan interior
minister as saying, "We will
make sure these terrorists
are punished."
Earlier on
Wednesday, Pakistan
offered a reward of 125,000
dollars for information
about the militants behind a
deadly ambush directed
against Sri Lanka's cricket
team, AP reported.
"The government
of Punjab will give a cash
prize of 10 million rupees
(125,000 dollars) to
'Failure not an option' in Pakistan's
terror war: Zardari
Washington, March 04:
“Failure is not an
option" in Pakistan's battle
against terrorism,
President Asif Ali Zardari
said in an op-ed piece
published in Wednesday's
Wall Street Journal.
"This is an
existential battle. If we lose,
so too will the world. Failure
is not an option," the
President said a day after a
Mumbai-style attack on
members of Sri Lanka's
cricket team in Lahore
killed eight people
including six Pakistani
policemen and two
civilians.
Tuesday's attack,
said Zardari, "shows once
again the evil we are
confronting."
Speaking for his
government, Zardari also
said "we have not and will
not negotiate with
extremist Taliban and
terrorists," adding that the
recently struck deal in the
troubled Swat Valley was
not with the Taliban.
"The clerics with
whom we have engaged
are not Taliban," he said,
Pak frontier region safe haven for al-Qaida: Obama
Washington, March 04:
US President
Barack Obama on
We d n e s d a y s a i d t h e
frontier regions of Pakistan
were "safe havens" for the
al-Qaida.
"The safe havens
for al-Qaida remain in the
frontier regions of
Pakistan," Obama told
reporters in response to a
question at the White
House during a joint press
conference with the visiting
British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown.
anyone providing
authentic information
about the accused
persons or their
accomplices," said the
Punjab government in an
advertisement.
"Assist us in
identifying the terrorists
who fired at the Sri
Lankan cricket team in
Lahore," said the
advertisement carried in
the national press,
according to AP.
The AP report
says the advertisement
carries four photo grabs
taken from CCTV
footage, declaring that
"the dignity of the country
has been hurt" by the
firing on the Sri Lankan
national squad.
T
government said the
h e
identities of the people
providing information
adding that Pakistan had
made clear to the clerics
"that it is their
responsibility to rein in
and neutralize Taliban
and other insurgents" in
their area.
Zardari warned,
h o w e v e r, t h a t " o u r
security forces will act
accordingly" if the Swat
Valley authorities were
unable to control the
insurgents.
He also said the
government would not
tolerate the closure of
any girls' schools in Swat
Valley, insisting that "the
education of young
women is mandatory.
"This is not an
example of the
government condoning
or capitulating to
extremism -- quite the
opposite," he said in
response to international
criticism that the women
of Swat Valley were
being sacrificed for the
sake of regional security.
The President
praised the meeting last
week in Washington of
US, Pakistani and
When asked about the
attack on Sri Lankan
cricket team in Lahore
today, Obama said he
was deeply concerned.
"But, let me just make a
general statement," he
said.
"Both Great
Britain and the United
States share a deep
interest in ensuring that
neither Afghanistan nor
Pakistan are safe havens
for terrorist activity. We
have coordinated
effectively in the past, but
World
would be kept
confidential.
Pakistani forces
were scouring the
cosmopolitan eastern
city for a second day —
searching for up to 12
attackers behind the
brazen assault that left
eight dead and wounded
eight of the touring party.
The militants, who
appeared young and
well-trained, attacked the
Sri Lankan convoy with
rockets, grenades and
automatic weapons on
Tuesday, and then traded
fire with security forces
before fleeing in stolen
cars.
Six Pakistani
policemen guarding the
team and two civilians
were killed. Pakistani
officials said five people
were being interrogated
- TNN
Afghanistan top officials,
calling it "a crucial step
forward in the war on
terrorism and fanaticism
in South and Central
Asia," and in relations
between the two
neighbours.
"By reaching
agreement, we have
overcome the past
legacy of distrust that has
characterized Pakistani-
Afghan relations for
decades and has
complicated strategic
planning and common
goals."
Zardari said
such "straight talk"
was essential if the three
countries wanted to
prevail against terrorism,
"Pakistan's fight against
terrorism is relentless,"
he said. He recalled that
his wife and former Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto --
"the greatest champion
of democracy in my
country" -- was
assassinated in
December 2007 while
"fighting for the values of
liberty."
-Agencies
the truth is that the
situation in Afghanistan
has deteriorated,"
Obama said.
Referring to the
ongoing comprehensive
review of US policies with
respect to Afghanistan
and Pakistan, Obama
said: "I will be making a
series of announcements
prior to the NATO summit
that immediately follows
the G-20 summit in terms
of the direction that the
United States would like
to go."
Biden rushing to Brussels to consult
NATO allies on Afghan-Pak
Washington, March 04:
U S V i c e
President Joe Biden is
travelling to Brussels
next week to meet his
NATO allies for holding
consultation with them on
Afghanistan and
Pakistan, the White
House announced on
Wednesday.
A White House
statement in this regard
was issued after the
terror attack on the
visiting Sri Lankan cricket
team in Lahore.
However, it is unclear if
both could be linked.
"The purpose of
his trip is to consult with
allies on Afghanistan and
Pakistan and to ensure
British PM to take stage in US Congress
Washington, March 04:
British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown
addresses a joint session
of the US Congress
W e d n e s d a y, a f t e r
pushing his campaign for
an overhaul of the global
financial system in White
House talks.
Brown took a
break from political
problems back home and
became the first
European leader to meet
President Barack
Obama in the Oval
Office, and won an
assurance that US-
Britain ties were
unbreakable.
He will be the
fifth British prime minister
to make the ceremonial
address to US
lawmakers, and was
expected to caution that
developed nations
should not take refuge in
protectionism as they
battle global economic
turmoil.
At the White
House, Brown said
global powers could
agree a "new deal" within
months on fundamental
reforms of the world's
crippled financial
system.
Obama agreed
the world needed to work
to head off future
financial crises, but did
not give a specific, public
endorsement of Brown's
calls for a sweeping new
global regulatory
framework.
Brown laid the
groundwork for G-20
talks on the global
economic downturn
which he will host in
London in April. "Look,
there is the possibility in
the next few months of a
global new deal that will
involve all the countries
of the world in sorting out
and cleaning up the
banking system," Brown
told reporters in the Oval
Office.
"There is the
possibility of all the
different countries of the
world coming together to
that their views help
inform the strategic
review ordered by
President (Barack)
Obama," the statement
said.
"The Vice
President also will meet
with NATO's Secretary
General, with senior
leaders of the European
Union and with officials of
the Belgian government,"
it said.
Earlier, Obama
expressed concern over
the terror attack on Sri
Lankan cricket team
members in Lahore.
"We're deeply
concerned," Obama told
reporters at joint media
availability with British
agree the expansion in
the economy that is
necessary to restore
confidence and to give
people jobs and growth
and prosperity for the
future," he said.
"There is the
possibility of the
international institutions
for the first time being
reformed in such a way
that they can do the job
that people want them to
do, and deal with some of
the problems that exist in
the poorest countries of
the world."
Earlier, in an
interview with National
Public Radio, Brown had
called for the rest of the
world to adopt the new
s t a n d a r d s o f
t r a n s p a r e n c y,
accountability and
regulation like Britain and
the United States.
"There is a
global banking collapse
that we're dealing with
consequences of in
every country," said
Brown.
"I think there is
a general understanding,
whether you talk to
China, whether you talk
to the European Union or
you talk to our great
friends here in America,
that we need to show that
the world can come
together."
Brown added
that those that did not
push through such
measures on their
banking systems should
lose their prestige in the
global financial
community.
Obama said he
and Brown had talked
about coordinating how
G-20 nations could
stimulate their
economies and adopt a
"common set of
principles" in banking to
stop crisis ripple effects
impact "onto our shores."
But the President did not
specifically address
Brown's "new
deal" plan or offer in-
depth details of their
talks. His spokesman
March 04, 2009
Prime Minister Gordon
Brown.
"Both Great
Britain and the United
States share a deep
interest in ensuring that
neither Afghanistan, nor
Pakistan are safe havens
for terrorist activity,"
Obama said.
Referring to his
policy review on
Afghanistan and Pakistan,
Obama said: "I will be
making a series of
announcements prior to
the NATO summit that
immediately follows the
G20 summit, in terms of the
direction that the United
States would like to go.”
-Agencies
Robert Gibbs later said
Obama believed it was
important at the G-20
summit of developed and
developing economies to
establish "rules of the road"
to head off future financial
crisis.
Obama sought to
downplay reports he was
interested in loosening
historic ties with Britain,
partly fanned in the British
press by reports that he
had removed a bust of
Winston Churchill from the
Oval Office.
"The special
relationship between the
United States and Great
Britain is one that is not just
important to me, it's
important to the American
people," said the president.
"Great Britain is one of our
closest, strongest allies
and there is a link, a bond
there that will not break."
O b a m a ' s
vanquished 2008 election
rival Republican Senator
John McCain also had kind
words for Brown, who
heads a Labour Party
government that is trailing
t h e o p p o s i t i o n
Conservative Party in
opinion polls.
"I'm a great
admirer of Gordon
Brown's," McCain said. "He
has a vision on how to
address the global
economy and I think we
ought to consider seriously
his proposal." But Jon Kyl,
like McCain a Republican
senator from Arizona,
accused Britain of failing to
do enough to forestall Iran's
drive for nuclear weapons.
"Great Britain
could be more helpful than
it has been in support of US
policies that would prevent
Iran from acquiring nuclear
weapons," Kyl told. "I
appreciate that this
economic crisis is very
much on the minds of
people both in Great Britain
and the US, but
strategically there are
things we need to do to
work together and I don't
like to see them ignored,"
he said.
March 04, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper Page 9
Page 10 Times Chennai E-Paper March 04, 2009

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