It’s a complex issue, says US of Headley access

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 29 (IANS) The US is cooperating with India ‘very closely on this critical and very complex issue’ of providing access to Pakistani-American terror suspect David Coleman Headley, says a US official without committing whether New Delhi would get such access.

‘Let me just say on that that we are very pleased that the United States and India have been able to cooperate very closely on this critical and very complex issue,’ Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake told reporters Friday when asked about ‘one of the sticking points of India-US relations.’

‘And we continue to work very hard with our Indian counterparts to move forward on that. But I don’t have anything more to say. I’d just refer you to the Department of Justice for further comment,’ he said.

Asked if he couldn’t say in so many whether US was going to give access to India, Blake said: ‘I’m not in a position to.’

‘I don’t think it’s a sticking point. I think that we’ve got – again, we’ve got a good dialogue and I think we’ll work out a way forward,’ he added when asked if this was a sticking point ahead of the inaugural US-India strategic dialogue here next week.

However, an Indian diplomat insisted that India would get access to Headley soon as promised by President Barack Obama during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here last month.

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Tees Hazari Court dismisses Madhuri Gupta”s bail plea

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): A Tees Hazari Court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of Indian Diplomat Madhuri Gupta, who was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan”s intelligence agencies.

She was earlier sent to 14-day judicial custody on May 1.

Gupta, who was posted in Indian High Commission in Pakistan, faces serious charges of having links with Pakistan”s ISI.

She is believed to have leaked the names of India”s undercover agents in Pakistan to the ISI.

However, sources say she might not have leaked any sensitive information, as she did not have access to it. (ANI)

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Pakistan distances itself from arrest of Indian ‘mole’

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 28 (ANI): Pakistan on Wednesday distanced itself from the alleged spy ring, in which an Indian diplomat has been arrested.

Islamabad said it was for New Delhi to probe the issue as it involves an Indian national.

Interacting with media, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said it was India’s internal matter and he hoped this would not overshadow expected talks between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan at the ongoing South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Bhutan.

“This is India”s internal issue, I don”t think this will have any bearing on SAARC activities. I do not know, we are hearing all these stories through the media so I would not like to comment on the basis of media reports,” Basit said.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that whatever he was hearing about the issue was through the media and not through official channel.

Secondly, he said, she was an Indian diplomat, and there was no reason for Pakistan to comment on it.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said he hoped the arrest of the Indian diplomat would not have an adverse impact on SAARC deliberations in Thimphu. (ANI)

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Manmohan Singh, Gilani to meet on SAARC sidelines on Thursday

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thimphu (Bhutan), Apr.28 (ANI): A spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said that Prime MInisters Dr. Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani would have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the XVIth SAARC Summit on Thursday.

In a statement, MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash said:”It has been agreed through diplomatic channels that the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan will have a bilateral meeting tomorrow, Thursday the 29th of April.”

According to sources, the much anticipated meeting between Dr. Singh and Gilani is expected to take up several issues, including progress in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack probe, the bilateral talks process.

As of now, neither side has committed on whether the two Prime Ministers would discuss the arrest of an Indian diplomat- Madhuri Gupta – for allegedly passing on Indian government information to Pakistan intelligence agencies.

Currently, Pakistan has adopted a hands off attitude on the issue, saying that they are officially clueless about it, and it is a matter that has to be resolved by the Indian Government.

New Delhi, on the other hand, has said that the diplomat is being questioned and will reach a conclusion after the investigation is completed. (ANI)

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Indian diplomat arrested for spying for Pakistan

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr.27 (ANI): An Indian woman diplomat has been arrested here after confirmation was received of her passing on sensitive information to Pakistan.

Madhuri Gupta, a second secretary with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was arrested here on Sunday after being called back by the Ministry of External Affairs for consultations related to the XVIth SAARC Summit.

Gupta was produced before a court on Monday and remanded to police custody for four days.

A private television channel quoted sources in the ministry as saying that Gupta, 45, had been leaking sensitive and strategic Indian Government information to Pakistan for the past two years.

They said they had been monitoring the activities of Gupta, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS)-B grade officer, for the past year, and added that over the past six months, the surveillance had been raised to a higher level.

The channel said the issue was not so much about the arrest of the diplomat, as it was about Pakistan being successful in planting a mole in the Indian diplomatic mission in Islamabad.

Gupta, who was a specialist interpreter in Urdu, was posted in the media and information wing of the high commission

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that it will brief the press here in the evening.

As of now, Gupta is being interrogated by personnel of the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing (R and AW). (ANI)

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KNP delegation meets senior Indian diplomat

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar.17 (ANI): Kashmir National Party leaders held a meeting with Syed Asif Ibrahim, Minister (Coordination) at the High Commission of India in London.

The meeting took place on Wednesday at the India House in London.

The KNP is the first political party which is based in England and in Pakistani Administered Kashmir to have openly met the Indian officials.

The aim of the meeting was to start a process of dialogue, as we are the main party to the dispute and we want to take this initiative to contact all the countries who are directly connected with the Kashmir dispute.

The meeting discussed various issues related to the Kashmir dispute and peace and security of South Asia. The meeting discussed issues related to terrorism, extremism, communalism and human rights; and looked at ways of promoting the peace process and building bridges of understanding.

The meeting also looked at the problems of people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the LOC; and problems of Kashmiri Diaspora and how to facilitate the visa process that the people of the State could interact with each other. It was emphasised that Kashmiri culture of peace, tolerance and coexistence should be promoted.

The KNP delegation fully supported the peace process between India and Pakistan as that is the only way forward to resolve disputes. However, they emphasised that the Kashmir dispute is not bilateral in nature; hence the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be made part of the peace process.

The KNP delegation said the Kashmir dispute is not religious, but political in nature. The KNP believes in liberal, democratic and secular politics and wants to support all those forces which believe in the above ideals.

The KNP delegation consisted of the following: Abbas Butt, Ch Sarwar Hussain, Nawaz Majid, Asim Mirza, Syed Zil – E – Naqvi and Dr.Shabir Choudhry. (ANI)

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ISI chief attends Indian High Commission’s Iftaar party in Islamabad

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.11 (ANI): The Iftaar dinner hosted by the Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabarwal here had an unusual guest, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Shuja Pasha, which has rumour mills suggesting that there is some behind the curtain talks going on between India and the intelligence agency.

Pasha stayed in the party, which was hosted at the maximum-security five-star Serena hotel, for 45 minutes, and shared the table with Sabharwal.

This is probably the first time that a head of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, with a known dislike for India, has attended a function hosted by any Indian diplomat in Islamabad.

Pasha’s interaction with the Indian diplomats come three months after his meeting with the Indian defence advisors posted at the Islamabad High Commission.asha’s presence amazed many as he arrived in the function donning a black sherwani over a white shalwar and not his usual army dress.

Many did not even notice his presence until it was brought to their attention, Geo TV reported.

Delegates present in the party saw it as a ‘good gesture’ and a ‘positive change’.

“It’s a huge gesture by him. A very positive development,” said former ISI Director-General, Lieutenant General Asad Durrani.

“It is very symbolic. It means things are improving between the two countries, and there are people who want it to improve in spite of all the tough talk going on,” said a former Army official Lieutenant General Talat Masood.

Some noted journalists, who were also present at the party, asked Pasha whether things will improve between the two neighbour countries, to which the ISI chief replied: “Yes, I think they certainly will.”

One of the media persons said he is not sure about that happening in the near future.

“You seem to be giving a fatwa,” Pasha responded. (ANI)

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Was the ISI behind Afghan deputy intelligence chief’s killing?

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kabul, Sep.3 (ANI): A former Indian diplomat has suggested in an article the suspected hand of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the murder of Dr Abdullah Laghmani, the deputy head of the Afghan National Directorate of Security.

According to M K Bhadrakumar, India’s former Ambassador in Afghanistan, while the Taliban has claimed sole responsibility for the suicide bomb attack that claimed Laghmani’s life, the ISI’s role in the incident cannot be ignored.

“The ISI felt the maximum heat from him in his native region of eastern Afghanistan, given the complexity of the situation there involving factors such as the traditional failure of the Taliban to strike deep roots among the Ghilzai tribes, the presence of the network of Jalaluddin Haqqani and al-Qaeda and the continuing influence of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and his Hezb-e Islami,” says Bhadrakumar.

“Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been stalking Laghmani for a decade. It is rare for an intelligence agency to single out one individual as its mortal enemy and publicly warn him. The ISI had bestowed on Laghmani that rare honor more than once publicly,” he added.

He further goes on to say that the ISI felt the maximum heat of Laghmani’s immensely sharp mind when he established the connection between the suicide bombers who attacked the Indian Embassy in Kabul in July 2008 and the ISI by tracing a cellphone found in the wreckage to a facilitator in Kabul who was in direct telephone contact with a Pakistani intelligence official in Peshawar.

That incident, according to Bhadrakumar, dented the ISI’s image hugely and further strengthened speculation regarding its involvement in Laghmani’s assassination.

“The sheer brutality of his murder by a suicide bomber in front of a mosque in the town of Mehtarlam in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday afternoon in the holy month of Ramadan speaks of a visceral hostility not easily fathomable,” says Bhadrakumar.

“Being an ethnic Pashtun, he had keen insight into the political culture of the Taliban movement and the mindset of its patrons in the ISI, which was an invaluable asset for the NA,” he says.

He also says in his article in atimes.net the timing of his assassination is significant.

“He has been a key ally of President Hamid Karzai. Pakistan has adopted an air of indifference to the outcome of the Afghan presidential elections, but a strong undercurrent of anxiety is palpable,” he says.

“Laghmani’s murder highlights continued interference in Afghanistan. In the coming period, we may see an escalation of such interference. Pakistan, for its part, will feel tempted to exploit the differences that have cropped up between Karzai and Washington,” he adds.

According to Bhadrakumar, Pakistani commentators see the Americans “breathing down his [Karzai's] neck harder then ever”.

They anticipate that in the name of a crusade against public corruption and for good governance, the US will seek the exclusion of important political allies of Karzai who belonged to the Northern Alliance, such as Fahim, Karim Khalili, Mohammed Mohaqiq, Rashid Dostum and Ismail Khan.

Therefore, in the shadowy world of the spooks, the second Karzai presidency may be starting on a bloody note, he concludes. (ANI)

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India nowhere close to be convinced that Pakistan willing to walk the talk (update)

July 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Paris, July 14 (ANI): India is still in doubt whether Pakistan is taking the necessary steps to contain the export of terror from its soil as promised to the world. Till visible steps are taken by the civilian government and the Pakistan army, there is little indication that India will move forward to restart the stalled composite dialogue process with Pakistan.

The composite dialogue process consists of the following issues – peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar barrage/Tulbul navigation project, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields

While the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in Sharm-el Sheikh on the sidelines of the XVth Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, and the Prime Ministers of the two nations are also scheduled to meet, the composite dialogue process that was abruptly called off by India following the Mumbai carnage of November 2008 is not likely to begin in the next couple of weeks from where it stopped. Though there have been indications that there is tremendous international pressure on India to restart the dialogue process, India stands committed to compelling Pakistan to dismantle the terror infrastructure that has destroyed thousands of lives in the subcontinent and made it one of the most volatile zones in the world.

When asked about the steps taken by the Pakistani administration like handing over the dossier to an Indian diplomat on Saturday which contained some investigation updates carried out by Pakistan, senior Indian officials were almost dismissive about the process, commenting instead on the tardiness of the procedure. It seemed as if the initial impression that comes out of a quick look at the dossier is that it is a face-saving and time-buying tactic. One official even expressed irritation over the seemingly futile exercise of exchanging dossiers when according to the Indian side it was crystal clear who and where the culprits are and that they are not being brought to justice:

Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will meet with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on the 14th and if Pakistan could have its way, on the agenda, would be a restarting of the composite dialogue process and Kashmir issue. India on the other hand would want to see something of a flowchart of steps taken to crack down on terror training camps, complete stopping of cross border terrorism and bringing to trial or better still extradition of the Mumbai massacre accused.

All eyes are also on the chemistry between Prime Minister Gilani and Dr Manmohan Singh who are to meet on the 16th. The awkwardness of the Zardari-Singh meeting in June 2009 in Yekatarinburg, Russia had left foreign office mandarins in Islamabad livid. The ticking off in the presence of the media by the Indian Prime Minister who is known to measure his words carefully marked a new low as far as summit level meetings are concerned. The embarrassed Pakistan president is said to have backed out of the NAM summit in order to avoid a repeat of a similar situation.

Prime Minister Gilani on the other hand, will try to do a Musharraf at NAM. At the Havana summit in 2006 Musharraf had managed to get India to agree “to continue the joint search for a mutually acceptable option for a peaceful negotiated settlement of all issues between India and Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a sincere and purposeful manner.”

So far, both the US and European Union have overtly stated that they are not interested in mediating between India and Pakistan, yet it is an open secret that diplomatic channels are on an overdrive to get the two nuclear armed neighbours to begin talks to sort out their mutually nagging issues. And Sharm-el Sheikh will be the staging area for some sort of resumption of talks.

Among think-tanks across geographical divides is a widely held belief that there is a mild disconnect between the political leadership and administration in both countries. The intelligence agencies, armed forces and foreign offices in both countries are knotted up in mutual suspicion that borders on aggression. Whereas the political leadership realizes that to move forward is the only way to step out of the mire, and it is necessary to find some common ground. By Smita Prakash (ANI)

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India nowhere close to convinced that Pakistan willing to walk the talk

July 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Paris, July 14 (ANI): India is still in doubt whether Pakistan is taking the necessary steps to contain the export of terror from its soil as promised to the world. Till visible steps are taken by the civilian government and the Pakistan army, there is little indication that India will move forward to restart the stalled composite dialogue process with Pakistan.

The composite dialogue process consists of the following issues – peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar barrage/Tulbul navigation project, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields While the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in Sharm-el Sheikh on the sidelines of the XVth Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, and the Prime Minister of the two nations are also scheduled to meet, the composite dialogue process that was abruptly called off by India following the Mumbai carnage of November 2008 is not likely to begin in the next couple of weeks from where it stopped.

Though there have been indications that there is tremendous international pressure on India to restart the dialogue process, India stands committed to compelling Pakistan to dismantle the terror infrastructure that has destroyed thousands of lives in the subcontinent and made it one of the most volatile zones in the world.

When asked about the steps taken by the Pakistani administration like handing over the dossier to an Indian diplomat on Saturday which contained some investigation updates carried out by Pakistan, senior Indian officials were almost dismissive about the process, commenting instead on the tardiness of the procedure. It seemed as if the initial impression that comes out of a quick look at the dossier is that it is a face-saving and time-buying tactic. One official even expressed irritation over the seemingly futile exercise of exchanging dossiers when according to the Indian side it was crystal clear who and where the culprits are and that they are not being brought to justice:

The Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will meet with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on the 14th and if Pakistan could have its way, on the agenda, would be a restarting of the composite dialogue process and Kashmir issue. India on the other hand would want to see something of a flowchart of steps taken to crack down on terror training camps, complete stopping of cross border terrorism and bringing to trial or better still extradition of the Mumbai massacre accused.

All eyes are also on the chemistry between Prime Minister Gilani and Dr Manmohan Singh who are to meet on the 16th. The awkwardness of the Zardari-Singh meeting in June 2009 in Yekatarinburg, Russia had left foreign office mandarins in Islamabad livid. The ticking off in the presence of the media by the Indian Prime Minister who is known to measure his words carefully marked a new low as far as summit level meetings are concerned.

The embarrassed Pakistan president is said to have backed out of the NAM summit in order to avoid a repeat of a similar situation.

Prime Minister Gilani on the other hand, will try to do a Musharraf at NAM. At the Havana summit in 2006 Musharraf had managed to get India to agree “to continue the joint search for a mutually acceptable option for a peaceful negotiated settlement of all issues between India and Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a sincere and purposeful manner.”

So far, both the US and European Union have overtly stated that they are not interested in mediating between India and Pakistan, yet it is an open secret that diplomatic channels are on an overdrive to get the two nuclear armed neighbours to begin talks to sort out their mutually nagging issues. And Sharm-el Sheikh will be the staging area for some sort of resumption of talks.

Among think-tanks across geographical divides is a widely held belief that there is a mild disconnect between the political leadership and administration in both countries.

The intelligence agencies, armed forces and foreign offices in both countries are knotted up in mutual suspicion that borders on aggression. Whereas the political leadership realizes that to move forward is the only way to step out of the mire, and it is necessary to find some common ground. By Smita Prakash (ANI)

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Former Indian Diplomat’s art work on display in Belgium

May 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Gembloux (Belgium) , May 9 (ANI): Art lovers in Belgium had an opportunity to see the portraits of 30 world leaders prepared by a senior Indian diplomat Placido D’ Souza.

Placido’s works have been put to public viewing for a fortnight at SAPNA at the Indian cultural centre.

P.D’ Souza prepared the portraits after meetings the world leaders as part of his official engagements with them.

“Drawing has been for me a way of having an activity different from my work as a diplomat that I was for 34 years. I have had the opportunity to meet famous and well-known personalities all over the world. I have sketched them, obtained their autographs, which helped me get closer to them and transformed the meetings into memorable moments,” says Placido D’Souza.

“I wanted to do a portrait of the President of Congo (Brazzaville). I saw him, I photographed him and sketched him.

I went to Congo (Brazzaville) as I was living in neighbouring Congo, and was told that he had just been assassinated,” D’ Souza said.

Placido further shares how he has been a self-taught person in drawing and during the last few years, he has showcased his work in the four corners of the world.

As an Indian Ambassador, he has travelled through all the continents, changing countries every two years as is customary for his nature of work.

When presenting credentials he would also do a sketch of these “great ones of the world” who have shown their appreciation of his talent.

“I am displaying my work in Gembloux. At times I sell some of my sketches for the benefit of charity. The Indian Consulate in New York has requested me to display some of my works there,” says P. P.D’Souza.

“I have already participated in the Gembloux artists’ competition. When I come here, I take photographs of the beautiful spots and then do paintings of them in crayon or charcoal: I have already done paintings of the Chateau du Bailli, the Chateau de Corroy, the Chapelle Dieu…,” says Placido D’Souza.

Presently, residing in the United States, Placido D’Souza has four children who live in the four corners of the world, including Gembloux. (ANI)

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Troops prepare to inflict ‘decisive blow’ to LTTE

April 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Amid increased international pressure for a new cease-fire to allow trapped civilians move to safe areas, Sri Lankan soldiers prepared to inflict a “decisive blow” to the guerrillas in stepped up attacks in the rebels’ last bastion of Pudukudiyirippu, officials said on Friday.

At least five LTTE fighters were killed in intense fighting in Pudukudiyirippu areas that are being heavily mined by the withdrawing Tamil Tigers, the army said.

“According to the latest report received from the battlefront, LTTE fighters are withdrawing deeper into the ‘No Fire Zone’ while mining the area to cause damages to the advancing troops,” the Defence ministry said.

Troops stepped-up offensive on Thursday towards Wellamullivaikkal from east of Puthukuddiirippu amid heavy fire by the LTTE rebels from the ‘No Fire Zone’, the latest military report received from the battlefront said.

“The LTTE is making desperate attempts to save their lives, keeping thousands of civilians in No Fire Zone and building earth bunds to halt the advance of the security forces,” the ministry said.

Amid international community’s calls for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka’s north, top UN official and veteran Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar on Friday met President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the plight of civilians trapped in the fighting.

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UN top aide Nambiar meets Lankan Prez Rajapaksa

April 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Amid international community’s calls for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka’s north, top UN official and veteran Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar on Friday met President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the plight of civilians trapped in fighting between the troops and LTTE as well as efforts to free them.

Nambiar, the Chief of Staff of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, arrived in Colombo on Thursday evening on a two-day unannounced visit.

While officials parried questions about Nambiar’s breakfast meeting with Rajapaksa, a statement issued by the UN on Thursday said that it continued to be concerned about the plight of Tamil civilians in the northern region.

Nambiar is understood to have discussed with Rajapaksa rehabilitation measures for over 40,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the LTTE-held region in Pudukudiyirippu.

Nambiar, accompanied by Hitoki Den of the UN Department for Political affairs and UN Resident Representative in Colombo Neil Buhne, held talks with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday.

The United Nations said in its statement that the world body “expects to assist civilians leaving through No-Fire-Zone (NFZ) into liberated (Government-controlled) areas.”

Sri Lankan government has already been engaged in rescue operations and the UN assistance will speed up the evacuation process, it said.

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Pak asks India to share info on Taliban threat to elections

April 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 13 (PTI) Pakistan today asked India to provide more information on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that Pakistani Taliban could interrupt the elections in the country. Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said Pakistan was asking for more information on the issue as it valued the Prime Minister’s statement.

“Please, give us information.

This has already been communicated through the Indian diplomat here,” Malik said.

He said the intelligence and information on Singh’s statement would help the two countries fight terrorism jointly. “Both the countries can work together to defeat terrorists,” he said.

Taking note of Singh’s comment that Taliban could carry out attacks to interrupt India’s upcoming general election, Pakistan had on Saturday summoned Acting High Commissioner of India to convey that Pakistan wanted the government of India to share with it “any specific information” on the issue. Pakistan today sought more details from India in connection with the probe into the Mumbai terror attacks, including the statement of the lone captured terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, for the “successful prosecution” of suspects arrested by it.

PTI.

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‘Slumdog Millionaire’ kids visit Shirdi

March 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Shirdi (Maharashtra), Mar 23 (ANI): Child actors of the Oscar-wining movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ paid a visit to the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Maharashtra.

Rubina Ali, who essayed the role of a young Latika in the film, said she cherished her visit to the shrine.

“I really felt good after coming to Shridi and getting the blessings of Sai Baba which I really cherished,” said Rubina.

Azharuddin Ismail, who played the role of a young Salim in the film, said that never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would be an actor some day.

“I did not even think that I will ever work in the film, but then I eventually worked in the film. It not only did well but eventually went on to win an Oscar,” said Ismail.

“Slumdog Millionaire”, a rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum dweller who goes on to win 20 million dollars in a quiz show, was adjudged the best film.

It also fetched Danny Boyle the Best Director award, Simon Beaufoy best Adapted Screenplay and Anthony Dod Mantle the best Cinematography award. The film was also awarded for Best Editing.

“Slumdog Millionaire”, based on Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup’s novel “Q and A”, came to the 81st Academy Awards ceremony with 10 nominations and failed to win only in the Sound Editing category. (ANI)

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Kerala film industry felicitates Pookutty

March 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kochi, Mar 12 (ANI): Regional film industry of Kerala felicitated India’s Oscar winner Pookutty, heaping on him encomium at a function in Kochi.

Pookutty, who hails from Kerala’s Kollam district, shared the Sound Mixing Oscar with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke for his work in the Danny Boyle’s film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

Pookutty was accorded a grand reception, artistes performed on the song ‘Jai Ho’ that earned him fame at the academy awards. He was presented a bouquet made of 1001 red rose.

“I have not worked with the Malayalam film industry, but the way you people are showering love upon me is really appreciable. I am grateful to all of you,” said Pookutty.

India’s composer and singer A. R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty won three Oscars for India as the “Slumdog Millionaire” juggernaut swept the annual Hollywood awards.

It also fetched Danny Boyle the Best Director award, Simon Beaufoy best Adapted Screenplay and Anthony Dod Mantle the best Cinematography award. The film was also awarded for Best Editing.

“Slumdog Millionaire”, based on Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup’s novel “Q and A”, came to the 81st Academy Awards ceremony with 10 nominations and won 8 Oscars. (ANI)

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Slum children in Kolkata inspired after watching ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

March 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 9 (ANI): Over 500 children from slums here were treated to a special screening of the Oscar winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

Coming out of the theatre, the kids said the story of Jamal, an orphaned and poor kid, who eventually becomes a millionaire overnight after winning a television quiz show, inspired them that they too should not take slum life for granted.

“We really like the film because the boy who performs the role of a slum kid is just like us and stays in slum in real life too. We have learnt that we can also progress in life despite coming from a humble background,” said Pooja Singh.

“The character of the boy shown in the film also belongs to slums. This is very realistic. From this film, we have learnt to dream big because if you dream big you achieve big,” added Kiran Gupta.

“Slumdog Millionaire”, a rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum dweller, who goes on to win 20 million dollars in a quiz show, was adjudged the best film in the Oscars ceremony last month.

It also fetched Danny Boyle the best director award, Simon Beaufoy best adapted screenplay and Anthony Dod Mantle the best cinematography award. The film was also awarded for best editing.

Bollywood’s A R Rahman won Oscars for original score and original song in ”Slumdog Millionaire”, becoming the first Indian composer to strike gold at the famed annual Academy awards.

“Slumdog Millionaire”, based on Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup’s novel “Q and A”, came to the 81st Academy Awards ceremony with ten nominations and failed to win only in the sound-editing category.

Though directed by a British filmmaker, “Slumdog Millionaire” has a mostly Indian cast. (ANI)

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Rushdie dubs Slumdog’s plot “patently ridiculous conceit”

March 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Mar 3 (ANI): Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire’s plot is “patently ridiculous conceit”, says British-Indian author Salman Rushdie.

According to Rushdie’s article in Britain’s Guardian newspaper, the central feature of the film – that a boy from the Mumbai slums manages to win the Indian TV version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – “beggars belief”, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

“This is a patently ridiculous conceit, the kind of fantasy writing that gives fantasy writing a bad name,” the author of The Satanic Verses said in the article.

Going by Rushdie’s comments, the film’s central weakness was that it was adapted from a book by Indian diplomat-novelist Vikas Swarup called Q and A, which is itself “a corny potboiler with a plot that defies belief”.

“It is a plot device faithfully preserved by the filmmakers, and lies at the heart of the weirdly renamed Slumdog Millionaire. As a result the film, too, beggars belief,” wrote Mumbai-born Rushdie.

Rushdie signed off by saying: “We can only hope that the worst is over, and that better movies, better musicals and better times lie ahead.”

Last month, the author marked the 20th anniversary of the Islamic death sentence imposed on him by Iran following the publication of The Satanic Verses. (ANI)

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Oscar or not, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is India, says Tharoor

February 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, Feb.17 (ANI): Former UN Under Secretary General and well known writer Shashi Tharoor has given the thumbs up to Danny Boyle’s movie “Slumdog Millionaire”, saying that for the first time in Hollywood and world cinema history, Indian citizens are in contention for two Oscars – one for best song and for A.R. Rahman’s musical score.

He believes that it is only right that Indians should celebrate the achievement, as they haven’t often had much to root for at the Oscars, Hollywood’s annual celebration of cinematic success.

Only two Indian movies have been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category in the last 50 years, and neither won. So, he says, that it isn’t surprising that Indians are taking a vicarious pleasure in the triumphs of “mainstream” pictures with an Indian connection-the seven Oscars won by Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi in 1983, for instance, or the success of The Sixth Sense, written and directed by a Philadelphian of Indian descent, Manoj Night Shyamalan.

This year, the country’s attention has been riveted by the surprise hit that Slumdog Millionaire has become, says Tharoor.

“Set in India, with Indian characters, Indian actors and Indian themes-which has been nominated in 10 categories. Directed by England’s Danny Boyle, and based on the page-turning novel Q and A by Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup, the film has captured the hearts of audiences and critics around the world with its tale of a child from the slums, a tea-boy in a call-centre who wins a TV quiz show modelled on Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” says Tharoor.

He describes the movie as “exuberant, exciting, gaudy and gritty in a way that can only be called Dickensian”.

He says that “Slumdog Millionaire” brings contemporary Mumbai to life from the seamy side up, “and it does so with brio, compassion and all-round cinematic excellence.”

While accepting the criticism of the film, Tharoor says the film’s searingly authentic depiction of India’s poverty and slum life, “is not an exercise in the pornography of poverty.”

“Slum life is depicted with integrity and dignity, and with a joie de vivre that transcends its setting. It is easy to see why this movie would appeal to international filmgoers in a way that a bleaker film like City of Joy, which was set in the slums of Calcutta, could not,” he adds.

“We Indians have learned to take human beings as they are, which is to say, as grossly imperfect. And the film’s hero, played by teenage British-Indian actor Dev Patel with a look that combines intensity and expressiveness, and yet seems utterly genuine, is as sincere a protagonist as you could hope to find,” he says, adding “if Slumdog Millionaire follows its four Golden Globes and Screen Actors’ Guild awards, and seven Bafta awards (the British Oscars) with an Academy Award or three, most Indians are bound to celebrate.”

He concludes by saying that “Slumdog Millionaire is the work of an artist at the peak of his powers. India is Boyle’s palette, and Mumbai-that teeming “maximum city”, with 19 million strivers on the make, jostling, scheming, struggling and killing for success-is his brush.” (ANI)

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Ansari meets Myanmar junta chief, deputy

February 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar), Feb.6 (ANI): Visiting Indian Vice President M. Hamid Ansari today called on the Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of Myanmar, on the second day of his tour.

The Vice President described his meeting with Shwe as extremely fruitful and significant during an On Board briefing to the media.

The call on meeting went beyond the scheduled time, and is being seen as a definite indicator of strengthening ties between the two countries,revealed an Indian diplomat.

Ansari said that he had extremely fruitful discussions with his counterpart Vice Chairman of State Peace and Development Council, Vice Senior General Maung Aye.

“We’ve discussed the entire bilateral agenda of cooperation and taken decisions on trade, economic cooperation, power sector and security. We’re looking farward to have more vibrant relationship between the two countries” he added during the onboard briefing to Yangon, on his second leg of tour.

Before leaving for Yangon, the business capital of Myanmar, the Vice President drove past the Parliament building, which is under construction in Nay Pyi Taw.

Vice President Ansari would inaugurate the Myanmar-India Entreneurship Development Centre(MIEDC) at Institute of Economics in the Yangon University later in the day. The centre is being set up with Indian Government assistance to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country. By Ravi Shankar (ANI)

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