Car bomb at Manipur governor’s residence

Imphal, Sep 19 (ANI): A major disaster was averted in Manipur when police detected a powerful car bomb inside the premises of the heavily guarded governor’s residence on Friday.

According to reports, militants masquerading as social activists managed to sneak in the small car fitted with powerful bombs inside the premises.

Bomb disposal squad of the state police recovered the bombs and took them to a forested area to be defused.

Governor Gurbachan Jagat was in his office when the car bomb was detected.

Attacks on heavily guarded residential areas of ministers and senior officials with bomb or grenade attacks are a frequent occurrence in Manipur. (ANI)

Twitter Gate: Congress will take action against Tharoor at the appropriate time: Tewari

New Delhi, Sep.18 (ANI): The Congress party on Friday said it would take appropriate action against Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor for his “cattle class” comments through the medium of Twitter at the appropriate time.

Addressing a party news conference in the capital, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said: “We will take appropriate action (against Mr. Tharoor) at the appropriate time.

Tewari further said that action against Tharoor was not ruled out.

He also justified Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s statement on Thursday seeking Tharoor’s resignation for what he called “irresponsible” comments on the social networking site Twitter.

“It was unfortunate and unbecoming on his part to make such comments. In my view he should tender his resignation as Minister,” Gehlot had said.

“To make such irreverent comments is all the more despicable when one is holding a responsible position as that of the Minister of State for External Affairs,” Gehlot told journalists at his official residence here after a “Roza Iftar” party on Thursday evening.

Gehlot had termed Tharoor’s references posted on the site such as “cattle class” and “holy cows” as unacceptable in Indian politics.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also said Tharoor had no right to continue in the Union Cabinet.

“I believe that in a democracy, people are God. To refer to them as ‘cattle’ is an insult to them. And I believe that such a person has no right to be a Union minister,” he told reporters.

Tharoor, who is on an official visit to Liberia, had earlier apologized through the Twitter medium, saying he was “sorry” for hurting any sentiments and that his words had been misunderstood.

“To those hurt by the belief that my repeating the phrase showed contempt: sorry. It’s a silly expression, but means no disrespect to economy travellers, only to airlines for herding us in like cattle. Many have misunderstood,” Tharoor said.

The minister said that he had learned belatedly of the fuss “over my tweet and pointed out that the phrase “cattle class” was used in the query, which he just repeated. (ANI)

US Ambassador meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Update- US Ambassador)

New Delhi, Sept 18 (ANI): The United States Ambassador to India, Timothy J Roemer, today met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence.

The meeting took place after Roemer met Union Home Minister P. hidambaram.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Chidambaram, Roemer said bringing the culprits to justice and going after Saeed were important to both India and the United States.

“Swift and mighty punishment for the six Mumbai suspects in Islamabad, is important for United States and is important for India. And going after Saeed is very important and dismantling the infrastructure of LeT in that region is extremely important to the United States and to India,” said Roemer.

The meeting took after reports of two FIR’s against Saeed came late last night.

He has been charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act for making anti-state speeches where he urged activists of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the frontline organisation for LeT that he heads, to wage a ‘jehad’.

Saeed has also been charged for heading a charity collection drive during the Ramazan month according to the police.

Earlier, Roemer had called on Pakistan to take action against Saeed.

“There are five, probably six, suspects currently being held in Islamabad in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. It is extremely important that these six people be brought to justice and put behind bars and receive sentences commensurate with their crimes against India, US and the world,” a news channel quoted Roemer, as saying

“I hope that in future the action on 26/11 includes people like Hafiz Saeed. Recently he was put into an Interpol red flag list,” he added.

The remarks follows Chidambaram’s visit to US, where he had briefed several ministers under the Barack Obama administration about Islamabad’s inaction against perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage.

The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. Among the dead were 28 foreign nationals from 10 countries.

Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive, has disclosed that the attackers were members of LeT, which is considered a terrorist organization by the Government of India, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Interpol has also issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi (another mastermind of the 26/11 attacks). The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists. (ANI)

Nirupama Rao discusses India, Nepal ties in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Sep 15 (ANI): Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao met Nepal Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and discussed various bilateral issues including greater sharing of vital information between the two countries.

According to Nepalnews, both the leaders also discussed electricity import from India, signing of extradition treaty and the agreements reached during Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s visit to India last month.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Koirala said that the discussion basically revolved around building greater cooperation between India and Nepal, Constitution drafting and the peace process.

“India was keen on providing more assistance to help develop Nepal’s poor infrastructures, building transmission lines for the import of electricity from India, signing of the new extradition treaty and address other trade issues,” Koirala added.

Earlier Nirupama Rao met her Nepalis counterpart Gyan Chandra Acharya and discussed joint strategy for implementation of the 34-point agreement signed between the two countries last month.

During the meeting, she assured substantial amount of Indian investment in Nepal if peace is established in the country.

She also called on former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala at his residence and suggested that Koirala has a great role to play in the days ahead to end the political impasse in Nepal.

She also met CPN UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and extended an invitation to visit India on behalf of the government of India. During her meeting she advised Khanal to seek a practical solution on rehabilitation and integration of former Maoist combatants.

Nirupama Rao also met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Chief of Army Staff Chatra Mansingh Gurung and Maoist leader Babu Ram Bhattrai New Delhi is sending a high-level official to Nepal at a time when the constitution-drafting and peace process has been stalled due to differences among major political parties.

This is Nirupama Rao’s first visit to Nepal after being appointed Foreign Secretary on July 31.

She will also visit Pashupatinath temple and offer her prayers later today. (ANI)

Mafia may be behind Berlusconi’s sex scandal, claims coalition partner

London, Sept 12 (ANI): Responding to the sex scandal engulfing Silvio Berlusconi, Umberto Bossi, the key coalition partner in the Italian PM’s government, said he believed Mafia had orchestrated all the dirty activities.

“I think everything has been put in place by the Mafia,” Bossi, the leader of the Northern League, said as he arrived at an event in Pian del Re in the north of the country.

He added: “We have introduced very tough laws against the Mafia.

“I already said to Berlusconi, ‘Look out because the Mafia is involved in that; the Mafia organises prostitution’. I am convinced that the Mafia organised this thing here.”

On Thursday, for the first time, Berlusconi admitted that Giampaolo Tarantini, a businessman, had brought “beautiful women” to his parties but denied that he had ever paid for sex, reports The Times.

In May, Berlusconi’s estranged wife, Veronica Lario, had announced that she wanted a divorce from the premier after accusing him of being “not well” and obsessed with young women.

She was apparently furious over his attendance at the 18th birthday party of an aspiring lingerie model, Noemi Letizia.

Later an escort, Patrizia D’Addario, claimed that she and another prostitute had sexual intercourse with the prime minister at his official residence in Rome following a private party. (ANI)

Hurriyat leader Geelani placed under house arrest

Srinagar, Sep.11 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday placed leader of the hardline faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) under house arrest as a preventive measure.

The arrest was ordered to prevent protests against Indian rule during Friday prayers.

Geelani’s close aide Aiyaz Akbar told reporters here that the former had been told not to break through his security cordon.

The ailing Geelani, 79, was earlier set free by police on Wednesday after serving a three-month jail sentence for organising protests against the Shopian double rape and murder case.

The latest detention came hours after he led scores of Kashmiris in an anti-India demonstration in Srinagar.

Police and federal paramilitaries were monitoring Friday prayers during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

He had addressed a press conference at his residence Thursday afternoon and later led scores of his supporters who shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. (ANI)

Nithari victims’s relatives express outrage over Pander’s acquittal

New Delhi, Sep. 11 (ANI): The acquittal of Nithari killings accused Mohinder Singh Pandher in the Rimpa Haldar murder case has left relatives outraged and anguished.

“I will destroy this bungalow (Pandher’s residence) in one minute. I am ready to spend money to get justice,” said Anil Haldar, Rimpa’s father.

His reaction came after the Allahabad High Court acquitted Pandher for the murder of Rimpa, who was among the 19 people killed at the businessman’s home.

Haldar, a married woman, was called by Kohli to work as housemaid at the Pandher, and thereafter went missing.

The father of another victim said he would approach the country’s apex court for justice.

“We will go to Delhi and appeal in the Supreme Court because the government out here is corrupt,” said Jhabbu Lal, the father of Jyoti, a Nithari massacre victim.

Earlier this year, both Pandher and Koli were awarded capital punishment by a special court in Ghaziabad.

The Nithari killings came to light three years ago, leaving people across the country shocked.

The skeletal remains of the children were first discovered in a sewer behind Pandher’s plush D-5 bungalow in Noida’s Sector 31.The human skulls were stuffed in 57 gunny bags along with 700 bone pieces.

Special Judge Rema Jain completed the proceedings after re-cross examination of former Noida police officer Dinesh Yadav on January 27 and the recording of statements of Pandher and Kohli.

A total of 19 cases of killings were registered at the Noida police station in December 2006. All of them were transferred to the CBI for further investigation. (ANI)

Shekhawat says Jaswant’s expulsion wrong

New Delhi, Sep 10(ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Thursday said the decision to expel Jaswant Singh was wrong.

“The way Jaswant Singh has been treated, I do not approve of it,” Shekhawat said.

Shekhawat was in the national capital. Jaswant Singh called on him, but said his visit did not have any political motive.

“I had come to enquire about his health and did not come here (Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s residence) with a political motive. As you know, I’m not a member of the BJP and Bhairon Singh was one of the founder members of the party. So, I have come to see him,” said Singh.

Jaswant Singh was expelled from the party last month for writing a controversial book that was sympathetic to Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, but critical of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Patel and first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru for their role in the partition of the Indian subcontinent. (ANI)

Saving the historical monuments to preserve cultural heritage of Punjab

Amritsar, Sep.10 (ANI): An endeavour is underway to preserve various heritage buildings of Punjab State in a bid to treasure the cultural heritage including historical monuments, which can help in boosting tourism in Punjab.

The palaces and Havelis across Punjab bespeak glorious heritage. These historically important buildings include religious places belonging to different faiths and can attract tourists to Punjab.

The Sheesh Mahal and Qila Mubarak at Patiala, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s summer palace at Amritsar or ancestral home of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan – they are important sites that need to be preserved for the coming generations.

“Every community, society has a very precious heritage which has to be and can be transferred to the next generation and this is the responsibility of any civil society to transfer that heritage to the coming generation if you don’t perform that duty, that is a sin, that’s crime,” said Dr. Sukhdev Singh, Punjab State convener, Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

To spread awareness about preservation of these heritage sites, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage recently organized a workshop on the theme ‘Cultural Heritage and Media’ in Amritsar.

The event highlighted the fact that popularizing existing heritage buildings and protecting sites of cultural importance, presently in ruins due to negligence and development activities, ought to be the main priority.

There were proposals to convert heritage sites into museums and heritage hotels for tourists to get a glimpse of Punjab’s rich cultural heritage.

It was suggested that the restored monuments could be commercially used on public-private partnership basis.

“Nuclear families have become more common than joint families and it has resulted in a big change in the whole system. Like in our system, the kids are taught to respect elders and follow the path of honesty. People get equal share in all institutions like in home, office and agriculture but today they are aware of especially one aspect of their lives,” said Paramjeet Singh , Prof. Of Architechture, Gurunanak University, Amritsar.

“There is a significant relation between tourism and the heritage sites because some tourists surely have some interest in what’s the history of people and what’s the culture of people. They don’t come here just to see the huge marble buildings. They don’t want to see the modern architecture, which infact is mostly western, they come here to know about the past of this place, so it surely encourages tourism,” said Dr. Sukhdev Singh.

Amritsar is the heritage city of Punjab. The city is known globally for the revered Golden Temple, one of the pilgrimage centers, which stands intact and was built nearly 400 years ago.

The heritage tour in Amritsar remains incomplete without visiting the old city, known for its traditional market and centuries old residential houses.

Be it the historic Jallianwala Bagh or the Summer Palace, the royal residence of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, they take every visitor here to the era they stand testimony of. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)

MJ’s California home not open to public

Washington, September 8 (ANI): The California house where Michael Jackson took his last breath will not be turned into a shrine to the star.

French designer Christian Audigier, who recently sealed the deal to buy the Holmby Hills home, has failed in his effort to obtain authorisation to turn the property into a museum.

His spokeswoman Michele Elyzabeth said that local authorities have denied permission to make it a public space, reports Contactmusic.

He will be given the keys to the property in mid-September but he can only use it as a private residence.

Jackson had rented the house from one of Christian’s associates. (ANI)

Now, Berlusconi says most Italians want to be like him

London, Sept 8 (ANI): After describing himself as “Superman”, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said: “Most Italians want to be like me.”

The controversial 72-year-old premier, who has repeatedly denied allegations of inappropriate relationships with young women, insisted during a television interview: “Most Italians would like to be like me and they support my behaviour.

“Italian aren’t stupid, as the Left thinks, and they prefer my government.

“Just look at the polls, we have an approval rating sailing towards 70 per cent”.

The premier’s personal life came under media glare after news of him attending birthday of Noemi Letizia, 18, a model, erupted, reports The Telegraph.

However, he has insisted that “nothing spicy” happened between him and Letizia.

He has also said he cannot remember the escort Patrizia D’Addario, 42, spending the night at his official Palazzo Grazioli residence in Rome.

Last week Berlusconi described himself as “Superman”.(ANI)

Musharraf must be prosecuted to end Army’s interference in country’s politics: Sharif

Lahore, Sep.5 (ANI): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said that prosecuting former President General Pervez Musharraf under high treason charges for taking ‘extrajudicial’ actions on November 3, 2007 would help resolve all crises facing the country currently.

Interacting with party workers at his Raiwind residence, Sharif said trying Musharraf would ensure that the door to military interference in the country’s politics would be closed for good.

“Today’s Constitutional crisis is the result of the military coup on October 12, 1999,” The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

“If common people and former prime ministers can face trials then why a military dictator, who violated the Constitution twice, should not be prosecuted?” the former Prime Minister asked.

Meanwhile, senior PML-N leader Ghous Ali Shah has rebutted reports regarding Sharif being involved in the ‘secret’ deal which saw Musharraf stepping down from the Presidency.

Shah said if Musharraf is not prosecuted under Article Six of the Constitution, then it will have a serious effect on the country’s democratic set-up.

“A military dictator contested elections in uniform with the permission of the courts and abrogated the constitution twice but if he was pardoned, then democracy would never consolidate,” Shah said.

He said the current infighting between the PML-N and MQM was temporary and situation would normalize soon.

“Nothing is final in politics and doors are not closed. Situation and time compel parties to talk to each other,” Shah added. (ANI)

Chopper carrying YSR’s body arrives in Kadapa

Hyderabad, Sep.4 (ANI): The flag-draped and flower-bedecked coffin of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhara Reddy arrived in his native village Pulivendula in Kadapa District by an Indian Air Force helicopter on Friday afternoon.

The flight took off from Hyderabad’s Begumpet Airport after being brought from the Lal Bahudur Shastri Stadium where it had lain in state for about three hours for the general public and leaders to pay their last respects.

The body of the late chief minister, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, will be given final rites with full state honours.

Earlier, the flower-bedecked gun carriage carrying the coffin was brought to the stadium for a lying in state.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and senior BJP leader L.K.Advani were among the leaders who paid floral tribute to the departed leader.

There was a sea of humanity inside the stadium, and some of them were quite distraught and emotional at seeing the cortege carrying the body of their son of the soil.

The body of the late chief minister will be taken to his village in Kadapa District around 2 p.m.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi paid homage to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhar Reddy at his official residence this morning.

Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash along with four others on Wednesday morning, also received floral tribute from other Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit at the Chief Minister’s Camp office in Hyderabad’s Begumpet area.

The leaders also wrote condolence messages in a book at the camp office.hereafter, the funeral cortege moved out of the premises and moved along a designated route towards the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, where it will lie in state for about three hours to allow the general public and politicians to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

The Andhra Pradesh capital was a sea of grieving humanity as people from all walks of life gathered in tens of thousands on major thoroughfares to give a fitting farewell to their son of the soil, YSR.

The flower bedecked army truck and funeral convoy, led by his emotionally distressed son Jaganmohan Reddy, wound its way slowly through the streets of the city towards the stadium. Jagan Reddy greeted the emotionally charged masses lining the route with folded hands.

Reddy’s burial will be held at around 5 p. m. in his native village in Kadapa District.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has declared five days of state mourning in honour of YSR and cancelled all the official programs in the state.

Reddy’s Bell 430 chopper went missing on Wednesday morning at about 9.35 and could only be located almost 24 hours later on Thursday morning following a night long search operation by different units of security personnel including Army’s Commandos, Air Force’s Sukhoi-30, and 5,000 CRPF personnel.

The wreckage was discovered atop a hill about 40 nautical miles from Kurnoool town.

Along with YSR, four others-Dr P Subramanium, the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister; ASC Wesley, Chief Security Officer and two pilots Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy-died in the crash. (ANI)

YSR’s body leaves Hyderabad’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium

Hyderabad, Sep.4 (ANI): The flag-draped and flower-bedecked coffin of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhara Reddy left the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium on Friday afternoon, hours after it was placed there for the general public and leaders to pay their last respects.

The funeral convoy is headed to Hyderabad’s Begumpet Airport from where the coffin carrying the body of the late chief minister, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, will be flown to his native village in Kadapa District for final rites with full state honours.

Earlier, the flower-bedecked gun carriage carrying the coffin was brought to the stadium for a lying in state.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and senior BJP leader L.K.Advani were among the leaders who paid floral tribute to the departed leader.

There was a sea of humanity inside the stadium, and some of them were quite distraught and emotional at seeing the cortege carrying the body of their son of the soil.

The body of the late chief minister will be taken to his village in Kadapa District around 2 p.m.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi paid homage to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhar Reddy at his official residence this morning.

Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash along with four others on Wednesday morning, also received floral tribute from other Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit at the Chief Minister’s Camp office in Hyderabad’s Begumpet area.

The leaders also wrote condolence messages in a book at the camp office.hereafter, the funeral cortege moved out of the premises and moved along a designated route towards the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, where it will lie in state for about three hours to allow the general public and politicians to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

The Andhra Pradesh capital was a sea of grieving humanity as people from all walks of life gathered in tens of thousands on major thoroughfares to give a fitting farewell to their son of the soil, YSR.

The flower bedecked army truck and funeral convoy, led by his emotionally distressed son Jaganmohan Reddy, wound its way slowly through the streets of the city towards the stadium. Jagan Reddy greeted the emotionally charged masses lining the route with folded hands.

Reddy’s burial will be held at around 5 p. m. in his native village in Kadapa District.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has declared five days of state mourning in honour of YSR and cancelled all the official programs in the state.

Reddy’s Bell 430 chopper went missing on Wednesday morning at about 9.35 and could only be located almost 24 hours later on Thursday morning following a night long search operation by different units of security personnel including Army’s Commandos, Air Force’s Sukhoi-30, and 5,000 CRPF personnel.

The wreckage was discovered atop a hill about 40 nautical miles from Kurnoool town.

Along with YSR, four others-Dr P Subramanium, the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister; ASC Wesley, Chief Security Officer and two pilots Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy-died in the crash. (ANI)

YSR’s body reaches Lal Bahadur Stadium, lies in state

Hyderabad, Sep.4 (ANI): The flower-bedecked gun carriage carrying the coffin of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhara Reddy has reached the Lal Bahudur Shastri Stadium and is lying in state for the general public and politicians to pay their last respects and floral tribute.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and senior BJP leader L.K.Advani were among the leaders who paid floral tribute to the departed leader.

There was a sea of humanity inside the stadium, and some of them were quite distraught and emotional at seeing the cortege carrying the body of their son of the soil.

The body of the late chief minister will be taken to his village in Kadapa District around 2 p.m.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi paid homage to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhar Reddy at his official residence.

Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash along with four others on Wednesday morning, also received floral tribute from other Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Defence Minister A K Antony and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit at the Chief Minister’s Camp office in Hyderabad’s Begumpet area.

The leaders also wrote condolence messages in a book at the camp office.hereafter, the funeral cortege moved out of the premises and moved along a designated route towards the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, where it will lie in state for about three hours to allow the general public and politicians to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

The Andhra Pradesh capital was a sea of grieving humanity as people from all walks of life gathered in tens of thousands on major thoroughfares to give a fitting farewell to their son of the soil, YSR.

The flower bedecked army truck and funeral convoy, led by his emotionally distressed son Jaganmohan Reddy, wound its way slowly through the streets of the city towards the stadium. Jagan Reddy greeted the emotionally charged masses lining the route with folded hands.

Reddy’s burial will be held at around 5 p. m. in his native village in Kadapa District.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has declared five days of state mourning in honour of YSR and cancelled all the official programs in the state.

Reddy’s Bell 430 chopper went missing on Wednesday morning at about 9.35 and could only be located almost 24 hours later on Thursday morning following a night long search operation by different units of security personnel including Army’s Commandos, Air Force’s Sukhoi-30, and 5,000 CRPF personnel.

The wreckage was discovered atop a hill about 40 nautical miles from Kurnoool town.

Along with YSR, four others-Dr P Subramanium, the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister; ASC Wesley, Chief Security Officer and two pilots Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy-died in the crash. (ANI)

Thousands pay respects to former Andhra CM Reddy

Hyderabad, Sep.3 (ANI): Tens of thousands of people, from all walks of life, came out on the streets of Hyderabad on Thursday evening to mourn and pay their last respects to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday morning.

Shouting slogans in support of Reddy such as YSR Zindabad and Long Live YSR, the general public and Congress party supporters lined the roads of Hyderabad as the flower-decked army truck and a convoy of cars drove from the airport to his official residence – The Camp Office at Begumpet.

Many of the supporters carried placards, flags and masks of YSR, signifying the high level of grief and shock over the unexpected tragedy.

Traffic was brought to a virtual standstill in the city as mourners and supporters desperately sought to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

Political leaders, cutting across party lines, are making a beeline for the chief minister’s residence to pay their last respects to Reddy and condole with his family members.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, are expected in the city tomorrow morning to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

Earlier, the highly charred and decomposed bodies of Reddy and four others were shifted to an Indian Air Force helicopter in Kurnool and airlifted to Hyderabad.

A post mortem of the bodies is to take place in Hyderabad this evening.

The dead chief minister’s body will lie in state at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium from Friday morning till about 1 p.m. to allow the general public and the political leadership to pay their last respects. It will then be flown to his native village in Cuddapah District for final rites. (ANI)

Berlusconi declares himself “Superman”

London, Sept 3 (ANI): Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has declared himself a “Superman”.

While praising his achievements in office and replying back to his critics and estranged wife, Veronica Lario, the 72-year-old said: “I’m not ill.

“You only have to look at what I’ve achieved over the last 15 months in government to see that not only am I not in poor health, I’m Superman.”

In May, Lario had announced that she wanted a divorce from the premier after accusing him of being “not well” and obsessed with young women, reports The Telegraph.

She was apparently furious over his attendance at the 18th birthday party of an aspiring lingerie model, Noemi Letizia.

Later an escort, Patrizia D’Addario, claimed that she and another prostitute had sexual intercourse with the prime minister at his official residence in Rome following a private party. (ANI)

Three more sons of TNSM chief Sufi Mohammad arrested in Peshawar

Lahore, Sep.3 (ANI): Pakistan security agencies have arrested three more sons of the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Mohammad.

According to The Daily Times, the three men were detained along with their families from Peshawar’s Pervaiz Colony.

Security forces nabbed Abdullah, Fazlullah and Abdul Rehman in a raid and took them to an unidentified location, sources said.

Sufi Mohammad has 11 sons, three of whom are already in prison.

The three men Ziaullah, Rizwanullah and Hayatullah were arrested along with their father, from their residence in Peshawar on July 22.

They were later sent to prison under the provision of the Maintenance of Public Order law, which allows people to be detained without charges being filed against them.

Sufi’s sons were released last month after they challenged their detention in the Peshawar High Court, but were arrested again later by security officials, saying they were wanted in various other cases also. (ANI)

Top BJP brass begins meeting at Rajnath Singh’s house

New Delhi, Sep.1 (ANI): Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have congregated at the residence of party president Rajnath Singh for a crucial meeting.

The meeting is expected to discuss many issues. Senior party leaders Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj and M.Venkaiah Naidu are among those attending the meeting. Further details are awaited. (ANI)

Despite court orders ‘invisible’ security cover still exists around AQ Khan’s residence

Islamabad, Aug.31 (ANI): While the Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered removal of all security restrictions on disgraced nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, there still exists an ‘invisible’ security blanket around his residence.

According to The Daily Times, when a team of journalists visited Khan’s house on Sunday, security officials dressed in civil dress, suddenly appeared and started enquiring them about the reason behind their visit.

When the journalists asked security officials why they were camping outside the house even after court’s order, they said they were serving Khan.

“Everyone, including us, are Dr Khan’s servants and we are here to serve him,” they said.

When enquired, a police spokesman denied presence of any security guard near Khan’s residence.arlier, Khan had also objected to the presence of security officials, saying restrictions on him continued despite LHC’s verdict.

“Police are still standing outside my residence. They are still asking people questions. I am not aware of any softening in the security cover,” he said.

“I want to move freely, stop wherever I like and be able to travel to Karachi or Dubai of my own free will, and not at the directions of the security people,” he added.

The LHC had directed the district magistrate and DIG Islamabad to end Khan’s official protocol with immediate effect on Friday (August 28).

The court also summoned both officials to appear before it on September 4 and explain the reason to keep Khan in captivity under the pretext of protocol.

Khan had moved a petition in the Lahore Court challenging his official protocol, terming it a hindrance. (ANI)