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Two killed in Srinagar suicide attack

      Srinagar: Ahead of the second Roundtable Conference on Kashmir, a suicide bomb attack rocked the city again, killing two persons and injuring twenty others at the Airport road here on Tuesday. According to sources, a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into the vehicle carrying about 40-45 personnel at the heavily guarded Airport road. Two Border Security Force personnel and 20 others were wounded along with the suicide bomber killed in the attack, sources said. The Hizbul Mujahideen claimed the responsibility for the attack.

     Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to arrive in Srinagar on Wednesday to chair the Roundtable Conference with Kashmiri leaders -- the second such event to be held this year. The two-day conclave is expected to evolve a mechanism through sub-groups to address specific issues like security, economic development, human rights and travel and trade across the Line of Control. In view of the Prime Minister's scheduled visit security has been tightened around the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake -- the venue of the two- day meet. As part of the security arrangement, police personnel have been asked to carry and properly display the special duty passes issued to them for the event. Boatmen, who ferry tourists on the scenic Dal Lake, were asked to leave the area early in the day. Surveillance cameras have been installed at SKICC and at strategic points on the route expected to be taken by the Prime Minister. Sharp-shooters of police and para-military forces have taken positions atop several government and private buildings leading to the venue to keep a vigil. In what analysts termed a setback to the roundtable, the main political separatists, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC), an alliance of two dozen political parties, yesterday said that it would not join the "crowd". The Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi, however, said that Singh would go ahead with the conference despite the Hurriyat boycott and the violence preceding the talks.

De-sealing of shops by MCD to begin (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today will start de-sealing the shops here as President A P J Abdul Kalam had already given his assent to a Bill that seeks a one-year moratorium on the MCD's demolition and sealing drive. The de-sealing activity comes as a relief for those who had become the victim of MCD's demolition drive and sealing. MCD Commissioner A K Nigam yesterday met with the Additional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners where discussion was held on modalities for de-sealing of the commercial establishments. However, the civic body has warned the shopkeepers not to break their seal on their own. It also said it will not allow any new commercial activity in residential zones. On May 15, the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill-2006 was passed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote after its passage through the Lok Sabha on May 12 as the members of Parliament, cutting across party lines, demanded immediate stoppage of demolitions and sealing of shops. The Bill calls to put a halt on further demolition or punitive action on grounds of unauthorised construction in Delhi for a period of one year. Piloted by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, the Bill provides for status quo as on January 1, 2006 on unauthorised development in respect of mixed land use, construction beyond sanctioned plans and encroachments by slum dwellers, hawkers and street vendors in the capital.

     The legislation in place would de-seal the sealed shops and shopkeepers who had filed affidavits, would be allowed to run their businesses June onwards. The Government was under pressure from the traders since December last to take appropriate measures, after the MCD launched its demolition drive on court orders against illegal constructions in Delhi. Until the promulgation of the Bill, the demolition men were moving across the capital, carrying out the Delhi High Court's order to the municipality to raze all illegal constructions. By the MCD's initial reckoning, an astounding 70 to 80 percent of all buildings in Delhi have have some minor or major illegal construction work. Privately, MCD officials stick to the figure saying that the majority of the over 3.2 million buildings in Delhi have some flaw or the other. For the moment, the municipality has targeted 18,299 buildings in the city. The city has seen unplanned growth for many decades.

India disapproves of Pope's remark (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Indian Government said on Tuesday that it has conveyed to the Vatican its disapproval of the Pope's criticism of banning conversions and his remarks on religious intolerance in the country. Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that Charge d'Affaires to the Holy See in Delhi had been summoned by the Ministry on Monday and was told to convey to the Pope in "no uncertain terms that Government of India disapproved of the (Pope's) statement" and was displeased by it. Pope Benedict XVI had made his comments when accepting the credentials of Amitava Tripathi, the new Indian Ambassador to Vatican, on May 18. "There are disturbing signs of religious intolerance which have troubled some regions of the nation (India)," the Pope was quoted as saying. He emphasised, "The reprehensible attempt to legislate laws to ban conversions is clearly discriminatory" impinging on the fundamental right of religious freedom.

    A day later, New Delhi responded to the Pope by saying that India is seen universally as a secular and democratic country in which adherents of all religious faiths enjoy equal rights. The Constitution of India states that "all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion". Sharma was responding to agitated members of BJP led by Ravi Shanker Prasad who during Zero Hour in Parliament said the Pope's statement was "grossly unwarranted and we protest and condemn it". Explaining the action taken by India, Sharma said it was pointed out to the Charge d'affaires that the Pope was not properly briefed about secularism and religious tolerance in India.

Five Pak movies to be screened in India (Go To Top)

      Islamabad: After the release of Mughal-e-Azam and Taj Mahal in Pakistan, it is now time for five Pakistani films to be released in India. The films will be screened simultaneously in New Delhi and Mumbai on June 25 during a 10-day film festival. The films chosen for screening are Syed Noor's 'Daku Rani' and 'Majajan', Javed Sheikh's 'Yeh Dil Aapka Hua', Sajjad Rashid's 'Salaakhein' and Reema Khan's 'Koi Tujhsa Kahan', reports the Daily Times. Pakistan Film Producers Association (PFPA) Chairman Jamshed Zafar while welcoming the move to screen Pakistani films in India said: "this is one step further towards friendship between the two countries. It is an effort to strengthen the peaceful bond of brotherhood".

50 missiles found in Faridabad (Go To Top)

      Faridabad: The police in Faridabad have found about 50 missiles near a school in Surajkund area. The missiles were found behind a school campus in the bushes. A case has been registered and investigations are on.

Sensex dips 400 pts in early trading (Go To Top)

       Mumbai: The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) fell about 400 points to 10,185 level after opening at 10,590.67 points on Tuesday morning. It, however, bounced back and traded 197 points down at 10,283 points at a little after 10 a.m. After Monday's over 1,100 points intra-day fall and 456 points loss at 10,481 points at the close, the Sensex was still quite volatile in the opening move. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index opened lower at 3,081.15 and fell by 2.30 percent to a low of 3,010.50.

Tendulkar opts out of Windies tour (Go To Top)

       Mumbai: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today took part in a fitness test organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and decided to opt out of the upcoming four-Test series against the West Indies that begins in the first week of June. Tendulkar told media persons here that he was still experiencing some weakness in his arm and is yet to reach top form for international cricket. He said that he would be leaving for London tonight to consult Dr Andrew Wallace, who had performed the operation on his shoulder in March this year. Former Indian team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus also told the media that Sachin is not ready to face the West Indies. "Tendulkar underwent the fitness test at the Bandra Kurla complex ground of the Mumbai Cricket Association today morning," a Cricket Board source said today. Leipus and selection committee chairman Kiran More were present during the fitness test. The Indian team for the Test series is to be selected here on May 24. The other replacements for the Test series are slated to leave on May 25 night.