At last, there is a ray of hope for Hindu minority community (Kashmiri Pundits) at the place of their origin and birth. Pundits are one of the original communities of Kashmir for over the past two thousand years. However, they were victimize by terrorists and neglected by Government since long time.

Many of them migrated from the valley and trying to settle to other parts of India. Even in J &K Government, jobs there are very few who get a chance to get in.

As per survey there were more than 4,25,000 (Approximate) Families were living in Kashmir in 1989. Today they have reduced to a mere 15000 families. Almost most of the families are migrated to Jammu or New Delhi and living as migrants.

Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad Chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir has took a step forward on the eve of Navrah, Hindu New Year, and assured youths of the Kashmiri Pundits community that they would be given their due share in state government jobs.

Last evening Azad was addressing a ‘Navreh’ (New Year) function at the Kashmiri Pundit Sabha, and pointed out that Kashmiri Pandits have got proportionately less jobs in the government over the last 16 years and said this was a cause for concern.

The Chief Minister noted that it was necessary to have people from every community in government services for the “overall health” of the state and said elaborate steps will be taken to ensure the Kashmiri Pandits got their due share.

Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri pandits, he said.

According to Azad, militancy in Kashmir is a temporary phase and the situation will return to normal in a couple of years, paving the way for the return of those who had migrated from the Valley.

Expressing concern over the demand for a homeland from sections of the community, Azad said, “The entire Valley is the homeland of the Pandits” and there is no need for them “to limit themselves to just a corner or mohalla in Kashmir.”

Azad said that as Minister of State for Home in the 1980s, he had rejected the ‘separate homeland’ demand of Hindus from Punjab who had migrated to Delhi due to militancy, as he wanted to rehabilitate them permanently.

“At that time, I had told them that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari entire India is theirs and one cannot be confined to a particular portion. Same is my word for those who demand a separate homeland in Kashmir today,” he said. As per PTI reports.

It is to be noted in 2003 Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s efforts to bring back Kashmiri pundits receive major setbacks, when terrorists attack targeting the minority community, forced many to leave valley.

The ongoing International crisis over Iran’s desire to enrich Uranium for research and energy purposes is deepening further. While US and its allies maintain a tough stand as they fear Iran is trying to acquire a Nuclear weapon, the UN too has demanded curbs on Iran’s nuclear work.

On the other hand, Iran is prepared for possible sanctions over its nuclear programme, even though its government believes such an eventuality is highly unlikely, the country’s Foreign Minister said on Thursday.

The UN Security Council has given Iran 30 days to clear up suspicions that it is seeking nuclear weapons, and it may eventually impose economic sanctions. Taking a different stand, Russia and China say they oppose such tough measures.

“We have readied ourselves to deal with different conditions,� Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in Geneva. “Of course we have pooled our resources and we are stressing a diplomatic activity. We must prepare for a solution which is based on an agreement.� As far as economic matters are concerned, we have expanded our capacity,� he added.

Amidst this deepening crisis, US officials while supporting a demand for sanctions have also said that a military action may even be kept as a probable option. The present situation looks grave and much effort is needed from all sides concerned if a diplomatic solution is to be arrived at.

Clothes are meant to cover your body and fashion is something which makes you look more trendy and helps you in presenting yourself in a more better manner…in a more fashionable manner…a manner which attracts one and all..!!!! But do we really have to do things which are BIZZARE to attract others???

Yea…i guess bizzare should be the world for many of the anecdotes and incidents that have happened over the years in the fashion industry. Janet Jackson and Timberlake’s nipplegate fiaso, Lindsay Lohan’s dress malfunction and Naomi Campbell’s dare-and-bare tactics are well appreciated, but what about our own Mumbai gals? Some say these were intentional but the girls deny it.

This brings to mind the Maushmi Udeshi, who was, a few years ago, wearing a dress which resting on a single string, and just when she was in focus on the ramp, the string got undone, rendering her topless in a second. “The worst thing was that my long hair was tied!” says Maushmi. “I had to use my hands to cover myself. I twirled confidently, with my hands on my bust, and then walked back. I couldn’t spoil it by showing embarrassment on my face.”

A similar kind of incident happened yesterday when model Carol Gracias was walking down the ramp and the top that she was wearing got undoned exposing her breast much to the delight of the people sitting there and the cameras. And today, while model Gauhar Khan was walking down the ramp, her skirt just gave away exposing her back. Seems the India Fashion Week hasnt been going too right for the models. What is appreciative is the way Carol handled the fiasco. There are many such incidents that have occured with the models in the past too. Dress malfunctioning is what the models have to face very often. Both Fleur Xavier and Jesse Randhawa had difficult times with their wrap-around skirts which started unravelling at most inappropriate times. Says Jesse,”I had to hold the skirt and move on. I made an exit earlier than I was supposed to.”

The key, models say, is to remain composed and move on, even if you’ve fallen flat on stage. “Models are adept at covering up,” says choreographer Achala Sachdev. “Slip-ups happen, but what’s important is how you handle them.”

Yea..slip ups happens ..it can happen with anyone…and we should not crucify someone for a genuine mistake. What is saddening is that Carol and Gauhar’s episode has been blown out of proportion by the media. Every news channel has been airing the clips from the show on prime-time. Is this justified?? In my opinion, media should have shown little maturity by underplaying the incident. But its sad to admit that media is uncontrollable…and i guess i we shall have to live with it.

The Indian efforts for controlling the HIV and AIDS spread are beginning to show fruit, with a significant reduction in the proportion of HIV positive population, especially in South India.

In what experts call the “best news on AIDS for India,� an Indo-Canadian team of scientists has come up with the first definitive evidence that the AIDS epidemic is slowing down, at least in Southern India, which is considered the cradle of the disease in the country.

The study, in the latest issue of the prestigious British medical journal, The Lancet, reports a one-third decline in new HIV infections in the worst-hit regions of India: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. While data from north India is still cause for worry, the Lancet study reports that prevalence of HIV-1 has fallen in the southern states from 1.7% to 1.1%�a relative reduction of 35%.

In another recent report, which was published in December 2005, it was reported that Goa also witnessed a decline in the disease spread. There has been a sharp decrease in the prevalence of the HIV virus in the tourist destination of Goa due to an awareness campaign against the scourge, as stated by the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS).

The Sentinel surveillance study undertaken in the State recently showed that the infection among anti-natal mothers was nil this time, as against the one per cent last year as reported to UNI y GSACS Project Director Dr J J Dias.

This reflects that the prevention programmes seem to be making headway and gloom-and-doom scenarios of AIDS in India need to be put into a new perspective.

Irked over the disappearance of public records and non co-operative attitude of the private power distribution company BSES, a Delhi court has asked its CEO to personally appear before it and explain the lapses of its officials by filing a report.

Taking strong exception to the matter, wherein records summoned in a seven-year-old power pilferage case, were not produced on the ground that the same were not traceable, the Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Sharma asked the CEO of BSES to personally apprise the court about the facts on April 12, the next date of hearing.

“It is seen that since the transfer of regime from Delhi Viduyt Board (DVB) to BSES there is no assistance from BSES for the court and always such plea of non-availabilty of record is taken as and when they are summoned,” said Sharma.

“Disappearance of public records is a very serious matter and the BSES is under the legal and contractual obligation to assist the court and the matter requires to be dealt by higher officials,” observed Sharma cautioning the company that non-compliance would be viewed seriously.

The case relates to one Satish Kumar Bansal, who, in 1999, was allegedly caught pilferaging electricity at his premises at Seemapuri, Delhi by a team of erstwhile DVB.

After the takeover of the DVB by the BSES, the case is being contested by the former which could not produce the records as demanded by the court.

“It is seen that the matter is quite old and could not be disposed of expediently due to non-production of relevant records summoned by this court,” observed Sharma. PTI

After long time nine persons, including prime accused Mustaq Kaniyo, were today convicted in a post-Godhra riots case in Danilimda locality of the city here where a person was shot dead in April 2002.

Additional Sessions Judge Sonia Gokani sent Mustaq Ahmed Sheikh to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for opening fire from a private weapon and killing one person and injuring another in a clash between two communities on April 12, 2002.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on Mustaq or an additional six months imprisonment.

Eight other accused — Mehtabraza Islam Saiyed, Rahim Ibrahim Tharda, Haroon Younis Ganyavni, Haji Mohammed Karim Chipa, Yakub Musa Patel, Mohammed Ajimkhan Pathan, Khurshid, Sagir Ahmed Ansari — were awarded one-and-a-half years imprisonment and Rs 3,000 fine (or an additional two months imprisonment).

“The eight accused were convicted on various charges including rioting, unlawful assembly, and for possessing sharp edged weapons,” said Nimaben Rajput, an advocate in this case.

Meanwhile, 25 others were acquitted by the court on ‘benefit of doubt’. PTI

Kolkata, Mar 26 The UPA government would go ahead with reservation of jobs for backward classes in the private sector and a Bill in this regard will be introduced soon, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar has said.

The Group of Ministers, formed to look into the reservation of jobs in private sector, had already prepared a report and the government was studying the possibility of introducing a Bill in this regard, she said yesterday.

Kumar said the recommendations given by the Group of Ministers have been prepared in consultation with FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM and leading private corporate bodies.

The minister said enterpreneurs like K Narayana Murthy of Infosys and Kumaramangalam Birla of Aditya Birla Group were in support of resevation of jobs in the private sector. PTI

Asian Development Bank wants India’s economic infrastructure to be upgraded, expanded and improved and the economic reforms accelerated to achieve faster and higher economic growth.

ADB feels India can benefit from from a common Asian Market as economic integration is going to accelerate growth and reduce income disparity within country.

As Indian economy has been growing fast, infrastructure like roads, seaports, airports, power, communication network has to be really sufficient.

However, it would require substantial effort to reduce trade barriers and harmonise custom duties, according to ADB.

“We have to have long term objectives, ambitious ideas. But we have to be realistic and we have to improve step by step, we have to endeavour for a common market,” ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda told select Indian journalists.

Applauding the government for moves on deregulation and privatisation, Kuroda said further economic reforms will be good for India if the economy has to grow by 9-10 per cent.

Indian economy has the potential to sustain high growth rate for the next 10-20 years and can even further accelerate it provided economic reforms continued and infrastructure further improved, he said.

Kuroda said India will be able to achieve the targeted 8 per cent economic growth this fiscal.

Emphasising that growth must result in poverety reduction, he said “inclusive growth, further investment in social sector and improved governance are the three elements absolutely necessary for sustained poverty reduction.” PTI

In the first high level contact since New Delhi voted against Tehran at the February four IAEA meeting, Iranian Vice President Rahim Mashaee today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here and the two leaders agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy sector.

Singh and Mashaee also agreed on the need for an early meeting of the India-Iran Joint Commission, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

“The two leaders emphasised the importance they attach to the civilisational ties between the two countries and need for further strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the energy sector,” he said.

Iran is a major source of oil and gas for India and the two countries are currently discussing establishment of a gas pipeline between them through Pakistan.

Singh and Mashaee, who is also Chairman of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation, agreed to promote the common cultural heritage of the two countries.

Deputy Chairman of Iranian Cultural Herigate and Tourism Organisation Seyed Taha Hashemi and Iranian Ambassador S Z Yaghoubi were also present during the meeting.

Mashaee is visiting India to participate in the Amir Khusro International Seminar being organised by the Jamia Millia University.

He will also visit cultural sites and centres in Agra, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar. PTI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh proposed a new plan that can help in improving the Indo-Pak relationship and put India back in the driving seat of the peace process with Pakistan.

He said that a treaty of peace, security and friendship could be the only logical end of the process.

The move at once took the zing out of Pervez Musharraf’s recent initiative for de-militarization and self-governance in J&K, and now put India-Pakistan peace on a broader canvas and at the same time without giving ground on India’s concerns on terrorism and refusal to redraw borders.

The Prime Minster was speaking on the occasion of flagging off the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service on Friday at Amritsar. He suggested the establishment of common institutions across the Line of Control in Kashmir and an Indo-Pak treaty of peace, security and friendship.

The Indian offer concentrates on good governance, open borders and cooperative mechanisms in Jammu and Kashmir and at the same time reaffirms that borders cannot be redrawn.

This new proposal will soon achieve a whole new meaning as the much needed political breakthrough in the Kashmir context.