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Bihar elections to be held in four phases
 by Gyanendra Kumar Keshri

     New Delhi: Assembly elections in Bihar will be held in four phases and the first phase of voting will take place on October 18. Addressing a press conference here on Saturdfay afternoon, Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon said the remaining three phases of voting will take place on October 26, November 13 and November 19 respectively. He said that the counting of votes in all the constituencies will be taken up on November 22. Tandon also said that with the announcement of the election schedule, the model code of conduct has come into effect in Bihar. Saturday's announcement puts paid to the hopes of the BJP and other like-minded parties for elections to be held in one day. Political parties are now expected to give their reactions to the announcement, which most people feel is an acceptance of the Congress line of thinking to spread the voting over several phases.

     The election dates were announced almost four months after the Bihar State Assembly was dissolved on State Governor Buta Singh's recommendations, as no party could come up with the required number of legislators to form government in the state. The Election Commission's decision to proceed with the poll process comes in the wake of Supreme Court virtually giving it a go ahead by refusing to pass any order on a plea for a stay of the elections. The Commission had announced sometime ago that elections to the crucial state would be held only in October-November this year and the process would be completed by November 22 when the six- month period after dissolution of the assembly expires. The Bihar Assembly was dissolved on May 23 with President A P J Abdul Kalam accepting the recommendation of the Union Cabinet following a report by Governor Buta Singh in the wake of a split in the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) headed by Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

No smoking in film, TV from Oct 2: Ramadoss (Go To Top)  
by Jai Krishna

     Chennai: The countdown has begun. Watching a macho Actor smoking a puff or two on small or big screen will soon be a feature of the past. As the Central Government's recent decision to ban Cigarette-smoking in films or TV serials comes into effect from the first week of October. Union Minister for Health, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, announced on Friday that the ban on smoking scenes in films and TV serials will come into force from October 2. Adressing a news conference Dr. Ramadoss brushed aside the film industry's opposition to the ban and said that this ban has sanction in law and all the citizens should abide by the law. "Coming to the issue of smoking, from Oct. 2 there is going to be a ban on smoking scenes in films and on the television. We have already notified it earlier and given much time. Except for the historical characters, historical movies and live telecasts, all others have to go through these procedures. The Health Minister, Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss says, "We have two laws involved the Indian Cinematographers Act 1952 amended in 1997 and is the Anti Tobacco Act 2003, which clearly states that there shouldn't be any of such scenes in films." The Centre also contemplating to issue a notification to ensure that a pictorial statutory warning that smoking was injurious to health is printed prominently on cigarette packets. Under the notification, the statutory warning should use at least 50 per cent of the space in the cigarette packet. Such warnings are already in vogue in countries like Canada. The Minister said the country might have to think of a total ban on tobacco products in another 10 or 15 years as the number of tobacco-related diseases was increasing alarmingly.

Two dacoits killed in encounter (Go To Top)

      Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): In a major break through between the police and the dacoits in the Konda jungles near Tadke Sehsari village District Mohana of Gwalior, the police shot dead two gangsters. Bharat Yadav and his accomplish Damodar Yadav were shot by the police, while the others managed to escape. The two dead had a cash reward of Rs.15,000 on their head and were wanted in a number of cases since the past one year. They were involved in cases of murder, looting, robbery and abduction. "From the past one year in the areas of Mohana and Shivpuri a gang was run by Bharat Yadav, which was involved in a dozen of cases. The two leaders of the gang Bharat and Damodar have been shot. They both had a cash reward of Rs. 15,000 on their head. The police officers who have been actively involved in the encounter will be awarded the price money." said, Manmeet Singh Narang, Superintendent of Police, Gwalior. The police recovered large quantity of arms and ammunitions, including bullets and riffles along with the items of daily use.

Ganesha idols rekindling spirits of Mumbaikars  (Go To Top)
by Sushil Pareek

     Mumbai: Leaving behind memories of the recent deluge in the city, Mumbaikers wish to move ahead as they prepare themselves for the Ganesha Chaturth festival, falling on September 7, with pandal organizers buying Ganesha idols in various designs, shades and on different themes. The artisans are busy giving finishing touches to the idols. Today, standing out at various workshops in Mumbai are giant- sized Ganpati idols at many places in Mumbai. Some of the idols are over 24 feet tall, costing up to 100,000 rupees. The process of making these idols normally starts months ahead of Ganesh Purnima. Both skilled and unskilled labourers from different parts of the country come to the metropolis to sculpt Ganesha idols. Over 20,000 artisans get jobs in Mumbai alone each year before this annual festival. Each year idols of Lord Ganesha are made on different themes. One imagae this year shows the Lord Ganesha standing on the Chakra of Lord Vishnu.With Ganesh Chaturthi falling on the 7th of September, various mandals have already started buying the idols as it takes a lot of time to decorate the idols. "The special thing about the Ganesha idol at Khetwadi is that it is based on Vishnu Purana. This is a 25-foot idol on the Vishnu Chakra," Pandurang Satpute, Secretary, 7th Khetwadi Ganeshotsav Mandal says. According to Internationally renowned idol-maker, Vijay Khatu the theme of the idols are suggested by various mandals , or group in a town. "Sometimes people from different mandals(groups) suggest themes of the idol and at time we go by our designs," said Vijay Khatu, Idol-maker. Legend has it that the Hindu Goddess, Parvati, created Ganesha from a perfumed putty-like substance, used to remove dirt from her body in an ancient self-cleansing ritual. On watching a boy standing outside wile Parvati was bathing, Lord Shiva, flew into rage and beheaded the young lad. When he realised later that the boy was created by his wife Parvati during his absence, Shiva brought him back to life giving him the animal's head. Thus was created Ganesha who is revered at the beginning of every auspicious occasion.

Old Arabs still come to Hyderabad for 'short' marriages (Go To Top)

      Hyderabad: "Arab Sheikh marries poor Indian girl", "Arab marries, and then ditches teenage Hyderabadi girl", "Arab Sheikhs marry young Indian girls and flee", "Parents marry off daughter to Arab for money" - The headlines aren't from decades old newspapers. But, before you start putting stress on your grey cells to find out in which era such inhuman acts happened, let's make clear that this is a 'harsh present day reality'. Yes, in today's era also Arab Shiekhs marry poor Indian girls paying a paltry sum, live with them for a short while, and then, go back to their countries, abandoning the girls. And, in Hyderabad, also known as the City of Nawabs, the practice has become very common, with marriage becoming a trade and woman a commodity. The auspicious ceremony now has a customer, a broker and a seller. The Arab Sheikhs come to India and fix up with a broker, who in turn finds a girl, fixes her price with her father, and finally after tying the knot lives with her for a few days and goes back to his country. The tragedy is that few parents have learnt the lesson. In a recent case that came to light, an impoverished Muslim family married off their daughter to an Arab Sheikh for a meagre amount of Rs. 5000, offered through a broker. "He gave Rs. 5000, but it was all taken by the broker. My mother didn't get anything. I married him wilfully, even though he was 50 years old," said a girl. Her dreams are all shattered as she has been abandoned by him. Earlier, Arabs used to take their brides back with them, but that stopped when the Gulf nations restricted their citizens from bringing home a foreign bride unless they took prior permission from the authorities. As a result, instances of Arabs flocking to Hyderabad for a young bride continue.

      Social activists, however, say that the socio-economic conditions of the Muslim community of Hyderabad, are forcing poor parents to marry off their daughters to unknown Sheikhs. While bachelors of the city demand dowry from the girl's parents, adding to their plight, Arabs offer them money in return. This leaves parents with little option. "In our country young men don't marry poor girls, as their parents can't offer them dowry. So a girl's father finds it really difficult to find a suitable match for his daughter - a match who won't demand dowry," said Nadir Almasdoosi, a social activist. The Qazis, who perform the marriages, said that they are not responsible for such marriages, because both parties give their consent on the 'Nikahnama' before the 'Nikah'. "When both the parties are ready, they inform the Qazi, and the Qazi is not responsible for anything after the Nikah." said Chief Qazi, Shariyath Panah. In that case the Qazi could say, "Jab Miyan biwi razi, to kya karega Qazi". But the main problem arises, when the Arabs, some of whom already have one or more wives, flee and the girls are left helpless, and their parents burdened further. But despite all this, poor families continue to get their daughters married to rich Arabs.

Pak minister calls for recognition of Israel (Go To Top)

     Islamabad: Pakistan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi has demanded that the Hamid Karzai Government accord diplomatic recognition to Israel at the earliest. "I will express the same opinion in the federal cabinet meetings. Foreign relations committees of the two chambers of parliament should make recommendations for improvement of Pakistans relations with Israel," he told The News. The minister said that he had been in favour of granting Israel recognition for the past two years as this would suit Afghanistan's national interest. Afgan is the first member of the Shaukat Aziz cabinet working under President Pervez Musharraf, who has gone public with his demand, a day after Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri had a path-breaking meeting with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Istanbul. The minister believed that Pakistans national security would become safer by granting recognition to Israel.

Nepal Maoists declare unilateral ceasefire (Go To Top)

      Kathmandu: Maoist rebels in Nepal have declared a unilateral three-month ceasefire. Rebel leader, Prachanda, said the Maoists would "not launch any offensive" during the truce, which began on Saturday. In the past few months, the rebels have been trying to woo political parties who are also opposed to the rule of King Gyanendra. The king assumed direct power in February, saying politicians had failed to tackle the nine-year insurgency. In a statement issued on Saturday and reported by the BBC, Prachanda said his forces would remain in a state of what he called "active defence" and would not launch any fresh offensive unless attacked. He warned, however, that if the army increased its military activities or expanded its camps, his party would break its ceasefire and launch what he called an offensive of even higher level. The Maoist chairman said his party hoped the decision would encourage all political forces and the United Nations to find a solution to the country's problems. About 12,000 people have died since the Maoists began their armed struggle to replace the monarchy with a people's republic. Apart from short truces during festivals, the last ceasefire was two years ago and lasted eight months. An alliance of seven opposition parties has been engaged in a nationwide peaceful movement against February's royal takeover. The parties have in the past said the Maoists must renounce violence to be brought into the political framework.

India offers medical, humanitarian aid to hurricane-hit US  (Go To Top)
by Priscilla Huff

     Washington: The Government of India today offered a wide array of humanitarian assistance to the United States in the wake of the crippling devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in large parts of the US Gulf states - Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In a formal offer which highlights India's committment to its relationship with Washington, the Indian government has offered to donate five million dollars to the American Red Cross and a diversified portfolio of medical relief supplies. In the medical relief, the government has offered to release from its stocks medicines to deal with water-borne diseases. India has also offered to provide a portable water purification plant which can simultaneously process clear water for upto 30 houses.. India has also proposed that a team of specialist doctors from the Indian Army Medical Corps be flown to the affected states right away. In fact, local commentators are saying that Hurricane Katrina is perhaps the biggest calamity to hit the US as compared to 9/11, and it will be a bigger test for President Bush, as compared to the 'War on Terror'.

Mob lynches five in Chittagong by Nazrul Islam (Go To Top)

      Dhaka: An angry mob on Saturday lynched five suspected robbers in Bangladesh's Chittagong city, pushing the death toll from mob beating to 24 in less than three and half months time. Police said mob of over 100 people caught at least seven suspected robbers at Nayarhat, on the outskirts of the city at around 4:30 a.m. and beat them mercilessly causing death of the five on the spot. They said the strangers had been preparing for robbery in the locality. On information police rushed to the spot and rescued two of them who received serious injuries and rushed to hospital later under police custody. Police identified the deceased as Ranjit, 40, of Nandankanan in the city, Nazim Uddin, 35, Mohammed Harun, 35, Nasir Uddin, 35 and Alok Barua, 25 of Banshkhali upazila in the district. Elias Ali, one of the injured who were undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital told reporters that they had no intention to commit any crime there. Mob beating in Bangladesh is a common phenomenon as law enforcers fails to check unabated crime in the country. In nearly three and half months at least 19 other people fell victim to the mob beating in Chittagong alone, according to police record.

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