Pawar to undertake six-day visit to China tomorrow

     Beijing: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's six-day visit to China beginning tomorrow, will top the agenda of exploring ways to expand India-China cooperation in agricultural sector as part of efforts to diversify bilateral ties. Pawar will hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart Du Qinglin on issues of bilateral cooperation during his visit from March 26 to April 1, officials sources said here today. He will also familiarise himself with different aspects of agricultural development in China besides visiting important facilities in Beijing including the Chinese academy of agricultural sciences. Pawar's visit comes ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's state visit to India from April 9 to 12. Pawar will have meetings with Chinese vice premier Hui Liangyu and Wang Jiarui, the minister, international department of the ruling Communist Party of China central committee during his trip to the communist nation. To gain a first hand experience of animal husbandry farms, pisciculture and horticulture centres, Pawar will also visit nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong province, the sources said.

F-18s to be sold outside America for first time (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The US fighter F-18s will be sold for the first time to any other country following America's announcement of its intention to sale the modern jets to India. Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, popularly known as F-18s, have previously not not been sold to any country, even to NATO allies, aviation officials said. The US decision, announced yesterday, is seen here by military strategists as a step towards Washington and New Delhi stepping up their strategic partnership. Two major US companies - Lockheed Martin and Boeing - would now be bidding for the Indian Air Force's contract on acquisition of 126 multi-role combat aircraft. Also in the race are France's Dassualt, Sweden's Grippen and companies from Russia. Reacting to the announcement, top Lockheed Martin executive in India Mike Kelly said his company would soon respond to India's request for information on the sale of its best selling combat aircraft, the upgraded F-16 falcons. "We are optimistic about our chances and excited to be allowed to make a first ever major defence contract bid in India," Kelly said.

Paswan forecasts a colourful government (Go To Top)
by Arunoday Prakash

     New Delhi: Union Minister for Chemical and Fertiliser Ram Vilas Paswan took the occasion of Holi to announce a 'colourful' government in Bihar soon. "A very colourful government will be formed in Bihar after Holi," said the man who holds the key to power in Bihar. Smeared with colours on the occasion, the minister was quick to point out that we are looking into the prospects of a government in Bihar. When asked about the new face of Bihar to emerge after Holi, the minister said, "Holi has nothing to do with politics in Bihar. Both are not in any way related". Sending a signal of political re-alignment in Bihar, the minister said, "One should forget and forgive the misdeeds of others on the pious occasion of Holi. We should let whatever happened in the past go". However, he did not made it clear as to about whom he was talking, whether the comment is about the NDA or the RJD. The Minister also took the opportunity to send some messages to his political colleagues, Lalu Yadav and L.K.Advani. "We should learn on the occasion of Holi that we should rise above religion and caste. Any one practising the same is not fair with the society," he said.

     Talking on administrative make-over in Bihar, the minister said that the process has started and very soon it will be a changed state, may be with a new government in place. Paswan was, however, reluctant to speak on the issue of Central advisor, "I am not interested in that, may have a government in place soon, then why worry. I am not talking to any body on the issue. Desperate MLAs in Patna are also hoping for a government to be formed soon. On the basis of anonymity, a JD (U) MLA said, "We are hoping a government to be installed by the 4th of April, however, I could not give you the details regarding the alignment and re-alignment".

     President' rule was imposed in Bihar on March 6, after the Governor of Bihar, Buta Singh, recommended so as no party or alliance of parties is in a position to form a stable government. This is the eighth occasion when President's Rule has been imposed in the state. President' rule was clamped in Bihar after none of the political alliances was able to form a government in the state. RJD has the support of 94 MLAs, still 27 short of the magic figure of 122 in the 243-member state assembly. The BJP-JD (U) alliance on the other hand has 92 MLAs. The key to power in Bihar lies with Paswan who has 27 MLAs of his party, besides some Independents also backing him. Soon after the elections, the LJP chief has said that he preferd a President's rule over a minority government in the state. But with time passing by and his party MLAs reportedly pressuring him to form a government, he is now sending feelers about the formation of a new government in the state.

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