?NDA?s PM candidate should have secular credentials?

NEW DELHI, June 19: In comments which could spell fresh trouble for BJP-JD(U) alliance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate should be somebody with “secular credentials”, apparently giving a thumbs down to his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi.

Even as differences over the Presidential election continue to simmer between BJP and JD(U), Kumar has made comments which are contradictory to his ally’s views. He has hinted that Modi--who is being touted as the first choice of BJP for Prime Minister’s post--does not fit the bill.

Differing with the BJP view that the Prime Minister will be chosen after the Lok Sabha elections, Kumar said, “The NDA will have to declare its nominee. The electorate should know who they are voting for and who will lead the country. The NDA should have a leader who can feel for the underdeveloped states like Bihar. It should not be someone who can develop developed states, but who has a feel for underdeveloped states. Though Kumar has not named anybody, he was apparently referring to Modi, with whom he does not enjoy a healthy relationship. The two had a war of words recently when Kumar attacked Modi for saying Bihar had lagged behind due to caste politics.

Kumar had then said Modi is like the pot calling the kettle black. “One whose hands are full of communalizm does not have the moral right to malign others for casteism,” Kumar said.

Kumar said that the Prime Ministerial candidate should be someone who has absolute faith in democratic values.

“In a multi-religious and multi-lingual country like ours, the leader should not have rough edges in his personality. An alliance can win the confidence of the people only if the leader is seen as accomodating,” he said.

The Bihar Chief Minister said he will air these views to NDA allies when the issue comes up.

The chasm between BJP and JD(U) appears to have grown in the recent weeks. Kumar reportedly does not want the NDA to contest the Presidential election and favours a consensus on UPA’s nominee Pranab Mukherjee. Many see this as his attempt to maintain good relations with the Congress as he wants to keep his options open in case of a hung Parliament in 2014.

He, however, denied that he was aiming for Prime Ministership. “We can only play a supporting role. But that depends on who leads the alliance. I have already outlined the qualities required of the leader,” he said. (PTI)

Mamata didn?t cross limit by suggesting PM for Presidential poll: Congress

New Delhi, June 19: Seeking to keep Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in good humour ahead of Presidential poll, Congress on Tuesday said she had not crossed the limit by suggesting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s name for the post of President.

Asked whether the Trinamool Congress supremo had crossed the limit in suggesting Singh’s name as a Presidential candidate, Shakeel Ahmad, AICC in-charge of West Bengal said “she had suggested a few names and I don’t think she has crossed the limit”.

Congress leaders had been unhappy with Banerjee for going public with the discussions she had with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the Presidential issue.

Ahmad said Congress will reach out to Banerjee to seek her support for Mukherjee and was hopeful that Banerjee would support him in the July 19 Presidential elections.

Contending that Banerjee had not made a single statement against Mukherjee since the announcement of his candidature, Ahmad said “we are hopeful that she will lead West Bengal to vote for Pranab Mukherjee in Presidential elections to ensure enblock support to him in the state.”

He said he has advised party workers in West Bengal to exercise restraint. The state unit of the party had demanded that the party snap its ties with Trinamool Congress.

Talk in Congress circles is that Mukherjee is expected to visit West Bengal on June 22 – his first to his home state since the announcement of his candidature for the Presidential polls.

It is widely expected that Mukherjee would utilize the opporutunity to bring on board the West Bengal Chief Minister on the issue of Presidential polls. (PTI)

Kejriwal asks Pranab to face independent probe

Indore, June 19 : A day after Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee trashed Team Anna’s allegations of corruption against him, its key member Arvind Kejriwal said he should face an independent probe to prove his innocence.

“We are preparing a counter reply. If you are innocent, why are you shying away from an inquiry. Let there be a probe, let it prove that you are honest,” Kejriwal told reporters.

Mukherjee had in a letter addressed to Anna Hazare’s team on Monday rejected the accusations as “unfair” and “self- seeking” and said it reflected the lack of responsibility on behalf of those claiming to represent high standards of ethical behaviour.

Referring to the political wrangling over Presidential elections, Kejriwal said, “No political party wants a very good and honest President in the country, they all are engaged in trying to gather the magic numbers.” “We (Prashant Bhushan, me and Kiran Bedi) are ready to face any such independent probe into any allegations levelled against us by anyone…If we are proved guilty, give us double the punishment.” Asked if Team Anna would form a political party before the 2014 general elections, Kejriwal said, “Neither me nor any one of us will go for elections. No political front.” Kejriwal said Ramdev would be invited to every agitation launched by Team Anna.

Another Team Anna member Gopal Rai said he, Kejriwal and Manish Sisodiya would begin a fast unto death at Jantar Mantar on July 25 on three major demands – SIT probe against tainted” ministers in UPA government, handing over pending CBI cases against Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and J Jayalalithaa to an independent agency and setting up of fast track courts to try MPs accused of corruption.

Team Anna members were earlier greeted with chants of “go back” by Congress supporters when they arrived at Rajbada to garland the statue of Ahilya Devi. (PTI)

Kalam commends Mamata?s ?courageous and honest leadership?

Kolkata, June 19: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who faced political isolation for proposing the name of A P J Abdul Kalam for Presidential race, on Tuesday received high praise from the former President who described her as a “courageous leader with firmness for a cause”. Kalam said in a letter to Banerjee that “during the short interaction I saw in you a great leadership quality of graceful politics, your firmness for a cause, honesty for the cause of the nation, particularly your courage and determination to sacrifice golden political throne is indeed graceful politics. “This is indeed the need of the country. It is known that history is written only by courageous leaders,” he said in the letter uploaded on Banerjee’s Facebook. The former President thanked Banerjee “for proposing my name for presidental election, 2012, and all your ceaseless efforts” and added “I am extremely sorry for the disappointment I have caused to you.” Thanking Kalam, Banerjee said she was “deeply touched, obliged and overwhelmed” with the sentiments expressed in his letter. “We Indians are proud of you, for your personal achievements in the country and the world. I feel you are always in the hearts of the people” the TC supremo wrote in her letter. Seeking his blessings, Banerjee, who described Kalam as a “friend, philosopher and guide for this country”, said she always maintained courage which stemmed from her struggle for the cause of the common people. (PTI)

?Make aspiring Presidents declare assets?

New Delhi, June 19: Ahead of the July 19 presidential election, a think tank Tuesday said presidential candidates should be asked to declare their assets. The National Election Watch (NEW) has written to the Election Commission asking it to ensure that candidates for the posts of president and vice-president came out with their assets. “Since a 2003 judgment of the Supreme Court directing the Election Commission to get background information on criminal records, assets, liabilities, education, all candidates contesting parliament or assembly elections have to give this declaration,” it said. “Most state election commissions have also implemented it. However, there is no such declaration in force for the presidential election.” Backing the demand are former chief election commissioners N Gopalaswami and TS Krishnamurthy. “The EC should extend this requirement to the elections to the office of the president and vice-president. It is in the fitness of things that all elected offices in the country, from the lowest level to the highest, are brought within the same discipline,” said Gopalaswami. Krishnamurthy said: “The Election Commission can extend the logic to require these candidates to file the affidavits in the interest of free and fair election.” (IANS)

Have not crossed boundaries of party line: Digvijay

NEW DELHI, June 19: A day after he was snubbed by the party high command for criticising TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh maintained that he had not “crossed any boundaries” of party line.

The Congress, which is still trying to woo Mamata’s TMC despite recent bickerings, had issued a statement on Monday distancing itself from Singh’s comments that the West Bengal Chief Minister was “immature” and “erratic”.

Singh said that he was in agreement with the party’s message that he was not its spokesperson. “So, I have no question on that. Whatever I have said, I have said in my personal capacity,” he said.

Asked to rate TMC as an ally, Singh merely said, “Every political party acts according to its own roadmap.”

To a question on whether he sees any larger design in Trinamool’s opposition to the UPA’s Presidential nominees, he said, “Each individual party moves along according to that party’s core vote.”

When asked about TMC’s conduct on the issue of Presidential poll, the AICC leader said, “That is for everyone to see but the fact remains that TMC is still a part of UPA.”

Expressing confidence that UPA will be winning the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Singh pointed out that the ruling alliance has not lost any ally so far. Asked whether there is a fear in Congress that NDA was trying to poach upon its allies, Singh said that every political party has a reason to extend its support base but Congress is confident of forming a government in 2014. “Why not” was his short response when asked whether UPA-II will remain intact till the next Lok Sabha elections.

Singh said the next general elections will be a contest between national parties—Congress and BJP, though regional parties will also have a role to play. Asked about factionalizm in Congress, Singh said this has to be addressed by the party at its own level.

Singh parried questions on whether Samajwadi Party could join the UPA and whether the ruling alliance would be including more parties by 2014. “Can’t say just now. At the moment, everyone’s concern is to see that the President and the Vice President’s elections are completed without much difficulty,” he said.

On whether he foresees SP and Congress coming closer, Singh merely said that Samajwadi Party has been supporting UPA I and UPA II consistently since 2004.

Singh suggested that the blame lay with coalition compulsions when pointed out that there was an impression of a policy paralysis in the government and that it was not moving forward with the required urgency towards economic reforms. Singh said the UPA government shall decide the pace at which the reforma have to come and the issues that have to be brought on priority.

The AICC general secretary also steered clear of questions on whether there is a need to replace “obstructing” allies as demanded by some in the recent CWC meeting. “This is something, which I can’t say on my own. It will be the decision of the party,” he said.

Regarding a second term to Vice President Hamid Ansari, Singh said that he has the “greatest regard” for Ansari but had “no role” in such a decision, which has to be taken by the party high command.

Asked whether Congress would prefer a conensus on Mukherjee’s name for President or would it like to go with a contest to prove that it has the numbers, Singh said that everyone should try for consensus and unanimity for the post of President. He, at the same time, said that “Congress party has never been scared of a contest”.

The AICC general secretary also took Ramdev, saying he would not like to meet the yoga guru, who is meeting political leaders to garner support for his campaign against black money.

Asked whether Congress President Sonia Gandhi should meet Ramdev and whether he would you like to meet him, he said, “It is for the Congress President to decide. As far as I am concerned, I would not like to meet him. “First of all, if Ramdev wants to meet me, he should seek an appointment from my office but, on my own, I am not keen to meet him,” he said.

Claiming that Congress party has always been fighting against black money, Singh said, “We have been doing our best after 2004 to unearth black money and also to bring back money stashed outside. “Efforts that have been made by the Finance Minister during UPA I and UPA II are much more than whatever NDA did. So our fight against black money cannot be questioned,” he said.

Targeting Team Anna and its member Arvind Kejriwal in particular over their attack on Pranab Mukherjee, Singh said, “If you see the service record of Arvind Kejriwal, you will find that he had not followed the business rules as prescribed by Government of India for all IRS officers. “One who has not followed the prescribed service rules of GoI, then in what moral authority can you question others?” he asked.

He said that members of Team Anna are all “politically ambitious people”, who are using the image of Anna Hazare to further their own case.

The AICC leader dismissed reports of rating agencies like Standard and Poor’s and Fitch, which downgraded India’s credit rating. (PTI)

?Who is secular in NDA?? asks Lalu Yadav to Nitish

Patna, June 19: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday took potshots at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his recent statement in which he asked his alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to name a prime ministerial candidate with secular credentials. Yadav said that he was unaware of any leader in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), who fits the bill. “Whatever Nitish Kumar has said, only he can explain. Who is secular in the NDA? Who will say in this country that the BJP is secular? That is why Nitish Kumar is making false accusations on me,” he said. Yadav further said Nitish Kumar does a lot of drama, and stated that he does not consider anyone secular in the NDA or BJP. Seeking to rest all speculation, Nitish Kumar in an interview to a national daily has asserted that he is not in the prime ministerial race. However, without taking names, he has also made it clear that JD (U) will not accept the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He insisted that the NDA should name its Prime Ministerial candidate before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the candidate must have secular credentials and a liberal frame of mind. Nitish Kumar’s candid comments appear to be aimed at setting the rules of the game before the NDA starts to mull over the strategy to take on the UPA in 2014. The latest war-of-words seems to have been sparked off by Modi’s recent comments on Bihar. (Agencies)

Sex case probe: Achuthanandan told to appear in court

Kozhikode, June 19: A Kerala court on Tuesday asked former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, who complained of sabotage of a probe into an alleged sex racket here in the early 1990s, to appear before it in person. The Kozhikode judicial magistrate gave him two weeks to appear before it and posted the case for July 6. The alleged sex racket involved an ice-cream parlour in Kozhikode as its base and was dubbed by the media as the “ice cream parlour sex case”. When Achuthanandan approached the court with a plea not to close the case, the magistrate said courts receive numerous reports from police to close various cases but they go through the merit of each case and only then decide.  The court also asked the Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran the basis of his petition. The Kozhikode ice-cream parlour sex case allegedly involved state minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader PK Kunhalikutty. The Supreme Court cleared him in the case in 2006. On Sunday, media reports said the police team which probed the fresh allegations had submitted its report to the magistrate that there was no evidence to prove that the allegations against the IUML leader. The day when these reports came out, Achuthanandan issued a press release that he would approach the court against it. (IANS)

Congress, BJP clash in JPC probing 2G scam

New Delhi, June 19: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), probing the 2G spectrum scam, saw heated exchanges between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members over calling former telecom minister A Raja and Attorney-General GE Vahanvati among others as witnesses. BJP members wanted Raja, Vahanvati, Dayanidhi Maran and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s principal secretary Pulok Chatterjee to be called as witnesses, which the Congress members opposed. Sources said the Congress members in the JPC countered the BJP’s move by saying if the opposition went on picking witnesses like this, the panel would have to go back to the NDA rule in 1998 and call Brajesh Mishra, then principal secretary to former prime minister AB Vajpayee, and the then attorney-general Soli Sorabjee besides the BJP leaders who were then telecom ministers. The panel consists of 20 Lok Sabha and 10 Rajya Sabha members. Some members were of the view that the panel should start writing the report, and only need to call Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), law and finance ministry officials as witnesses. But BJP leader Yashwant Sinha wanted some political persons also to be called as witnesses, said sources. (IANS)

?Sangma will support Pranab?

New Delhi, June 19: The NCP on Tuesday expressed confidence that party leader P.A. Sangma will ultimately support UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee. Ahead of a NCP meeting on Thursday, National Congress Party leader DP Tripathi met Finance Minister Mukherjee on Tuesday. “It was a courtesy call. We are an ally of UPA, so I came to meet him,” Tripathi told reporters. On Sangma’s refusal to withdraw from the presidential race, Tripathi said: “He is a senior leader. We are meeting on June 21 and he will attend the meeting. We are confident he will support the UPA candidate.” Sangma is the joint candidate of the AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal. Despite appeals from NCP leader Sharad Pawar, he is adamant on fighting the election. (IANS)

BJP fields Prakash Pant against Vijay Bahuguna

NEW DELHI, June 19: BJP on Tuesday announced the candidature of Prakash Pant for contesting the Sitarganj bypoll against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. BJP president Nitin Gadkari cleared Pant’s name after approving the recommendations of party’s Uttarakhand state election committee for the bypoll. A total of three names had been recommended by the committee. Pant, a former minister in the previous BJP governments, had lost the Pithoragarh assembly seat in the March assembly polls in the state. Chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, who till now was a Lok Sabha member from Tehri, is contesting the Sitarganj bye election as a Congress candidate and filed his nomination papers on June 14. The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal have decided not to field a candidate against Bahuguna. The bypoll, which is slated on July 8, was necessitated following the resignation of BJP legislator Kiran Mandal last month. (PTI)

Admission software hacked, medical student tells court

NEW DELHI, June 19: The Supreme Court on Tuesday was told by a petitioner that the software developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for on-line counselling and admission to post-graduate medical courses was not foolproof and prone to hacking.

The apex court vacation bench of Justice H L. Gokhale and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai was told by a candidate that the result of the second round of counselling was allegedly hacked a day before it was declared June 12.

Petitioner Pankila Mittal’s counsel Nushad Ahmed Khan said that the alleged hacking led to a conclusion that the “software prepared by the NIC is not foolproof/tamper-free, prone to hacking/tampering/manipulation/addition/alteration/deletion/modification”.

He said that the way the result of the second round of counselling got allegedly leaked flew into the face of the union health ministry’s contention that the online counselling would be faceless yet fully transparent and fair.

The petitioner said that though she was allotted a seat in a Mumbai-based medical college for a post-graduate degree course but participated in the second round of counselling so that she could get admission to a discipline of her choice.

Mittal completed all formalities for her admission in the Mumbai medical college on May 16.

Failing to get a better opportunity in the second round of counselling, the petitioner locked her earlier post-graduate degree course admission in the Mumbai college.

The result of the allocation of seats and the courses was slated to be declared on June 12 but on June 11 the results were hacked and were on the internet.

The results so put on the internet showed her being admitted to a diploma in veneralogy and dermatology where as she had opted for a post-graduate degree course.

The petitioner told the court that several other candidates had suffered such down scaling of their courses from post-graduate MS/MD to diploma courses and vice-versa.

Counsel Rekha Pandey, who appeared for the government, sought time for taking instruction from the directorate general of health services.

The matter will come up for hearing Thursday. (IANS)

Spotlight on Rio as Earth Summit kicks off on Wednesday

NEW DELHI, June 19: Brazil’s picturesque port city of Rio de Janeiro will be the focus of attention for three days as the Earth Summit 2012 kicks off on Wednesday. It will examine how committed world leaders are to defining a sustainable development pathway to enable people around the world maintain a decent standard of living while preserving ecosystems and natural resources.

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development from June 20 to 22 is also referred to as ‘Rio+20’ because it takes place in 2012, 20 years after the original Earth Summit held in Rio in 1992. The summit, for the first time, brought environment and development issues firmly into the public arena.

At the conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how poverty can be reduced, social equity advanced and environmental protection ensured in an ever more crowded planet.

US President Barack Obama, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several other heads of state will take part in the deliberations.

The countries will pitch to secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development, to assess progress towards internationally agreed goals on sustainable development and to address new and emerging challenges.

The focus will be on two specific themes - green economy in the context of poverty eradication and sustainable development, and an institutional framework for sustainable development.

The summit, like the climate change conferences, is expected to see division among the rich and poor countries.

India is of the view that a green economy as a concept will succeed only if it enhances the ability to address poverty eradication, provides adequate policy space for national circumstances and priorities and ensures that structural changes that result do not lead to green protectionism and conditionalities.

Speaking about India’s stand at Rio, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said: “The Rio outcome will have to be voluntary, non-binding and aspirational ... no insistence. There should be no compromise on equity and common but differentiated responsibility and these two principles should be the core of any outcome.”

India’s former key negotiator Prodipto Ghosh cautions that developed countries would want to be treated at par with developing countries while setting goals and targets towards a greener economy at Rio.

“What we are expected to see at the Rio+20 is developed blocks like the European Union (EU) and countries like the US trying to reverse the global political impact since 1992 from sustainable development to climate change, as they don’t want the difference between developed and developing countries to prevail,” Ghosh told IANS.

He says developing countries should try to maintain the nature of impact of the 1992 Rio conference.

“Negotiators should seek more commitment from developed countries for finance and technology transfer. India, China and other developing countries should take care that developed countries do not erode our development on the name of emissions,” he said.

About the likely outcome at Rio, Ghosh said countries may start a process to discuss SDGs but warned that developing countries should accept such goals only after rich countries commit to providing money and technology to poor countries to traverse the path of sustainable development. (IANS)

Unusual pairings: The new recipe in Bollywood

NEW DELHI, June 19: There was a time when films used to ride on popular screen couples. But not any more. Today filmmakers are not only experimenting with content but are also bringing unusual couples on screen.

From Akshay Kumar-Sonakshi Sinha to Vidya Balan-Farhan Akhtar, filmmakers are trying various permutations and combinations to bring freshness to the silver screen.

According to trade analyst Vinod Mirani, an unusual pairing will definitely become a hit formula but cautions that such experiments need a convincing script.

“An unusual pairing works only when it is needed. When the story demands it, then it looks authentic. Or else one can’t just force unusual pairs in a film to make it look different,” said Mirani.

So far, one of the most successful unusual pairs has been of Rahul Bose and Mallika Sherawat. They teamed up for Pyaar Ke Side Effects and were instant hit at the box office as the people adored their romantic escapades in the rom-com.

When Amitabh Bachchan was paired opposite much younger Tabu and Jiah Khan in Cheeni Kum and Nishabd respectively, critics were sceptical about viewers’ reaction. But much to their surprise, audiences enjoyed watching Big B romancing Tabu and they also appreciated his pairing with Jiah. It was so because it fitted into the scheme of the story.

A typical paring that saw high popularity was when heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor and Konkana Sen Sharma came together in Wake Up Sid which turned out to be one of the biggest successes of 2009.

Vidya Balan was seen romancing Naseeruddin Shah in Ishqiya and later in The Dirty Picture and in both the films, they scorched the screen with their passionate romance.

“At times it works at times it doesn’t. The story has to be conniving like The Dirty Picture or Kahaani, where it should be justified,” said Mirani. The 44-year-old Akshay, who teamed up with 25-year-old Sonakshi Sinha in recent hit Rowdy Rathore, says age doesn’t matter while finalizing the cast.

“Age is just a number. Even today I can run better than a person who is half my age. Also, if these young girls look great with us, then what to do?” said Akshay, who will again be seen with Sonakshi in Joker.

Sonakshi, who started her career with much older Salman Khan in Dabangg, says chemistry is more important than anything else.

“There is nothing like that, one should not think about it so much! After all, the chemistry looks awesome on screen and we saw that in Rowdy Rathore, isn’t it?” she added. (IANS)

India bonds with Africa with culture bouquet, fusion

NEW DELHI, June 19: A true cultural friendship has blossomed between India and Africa with the meeting of traditional African free-flowing performing arts and the structured grammar of Indian classical music and dance at a two-day Africa Festival here.

The participating nations are Zambia, the Syechelles, Ghana, Senegal, Sudan and Mali.

The two-day festival from June 18-19, an initiative of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), began with a Namaste India fusion concert choreographed by noted Bharatnatyam dancer Geeta Chandran featuring performers from Zambia, Seychelles and Ghana at the Kamani Auditorium.

Chandran led the musicians to the rhythm of Carnatic music as they paid tribute to the host India with a group performance. The evening ended with yet another India-Africa group concert conducted by Chandran.

“It is an India-Africa bonding in the real sense. When you see so many heads of African states and performers, their brightly coloured traditional dresses and an Indian Bharatnatyam dancer attired in atraditional sari, it is true friendship. Culture plays an unique role in underlining the links and the growing relations between India and Africa,” ICCR director general Suresh Goel said.

For Chandran, who worked with the troupes for two ‘hectic days’ to package the performances, the experience was one of learning.

The first to perform on the opening day Monday was the Zambian Cultural Dance Troupe, a group of professional artists drawn from nine different community-based cultural ensembles with the view to supporting the One Zambia, One Nation moto through their arts and culture. Clad in their traditional costumes and elaborate feathered head-gear, the performers showed off their skills on traditional percussion instruments and ritual dancing from the villages.

Sikaneta, Zambia’s high commissioner to India said Zambians were trying to preserve the traditional cultures “the way things are in the villages”. A traditional performance arts centre in Lusaka allows tourists to watch performances in the evenings, Sikaneta said.

The National Cultural Troupe of Seychelles, which represented the multi-cultural post-colonial culture of the island nation, rendered a performance in two parts. Their prefromance was devoted to the 18th century culture of Seychelles, the traditional slave performances and that of their white colonial masters and the spirit of contemporary multi-racial Seychelles with a combination of games, songs, plays, ceremonies and dances.

The La Ballet National Du founded by the poet and national leader of Senegal, Leopold Senghor, in 1960 displayed physical discipline on the stage while the Sudan Folklore Group and the Ensemble Instrumental National DU from Mali virtually transposed the traditional spirit of their countries to India. (IANS)

Indore girl wins Miss Asia Pacific 2012

NEW DELHI, June 19: Himangini Singh Yadu, who represented India at the Miss Asia Pacific 2012, has won the international title. She is the first one to win the crown in 12 years.

The beauty pageant was held in Busan, South Korea on Saturday.

“This is a dream come true! All the hard work, time and effort that my mentors have put in with me has paid off,” said Himangini said in a statement.

She has been selected by I AM She, a national beauty pageant, started in 2010, which sends its winner to Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific pageants.

“I am extremely thankful to the entire I AM She team and Sushmita Sen. I couldn’t have done it without them! I am extremely thrilled at making them and India proud,” Himangini said.

Ever since I AM She came into being, this is the first time their candidate has won an international title and Sushmita, founder of the organization, is delighted with the victory.

“We did it! The entire team is extremely happy and very proud of Himangini for winning the international title. She has so beautifully represented India and won us back that sweet taste of victory,” said the former Miss Universe.

Model-turned-actress Dia Mirza was the last Indian to win the Miss Asia Pacific title in the year 2000.

Himangini Singh Yadu is a BCA graduate from Indore’s International Institute of Professional Studies. She was also crowned Miss Indore in 2006 and has since walked the ramp at various fashion shows.  (IANS)

John Doe order passed for Kashyap?s upcoming film

MUMBAI, June 19: The makers of the Anurag Kashyap film Gangs Of Wasseypur, Viacom18, have received an unconditional John Doe order from the Bombay High Court for their upcoming film. According to the order, the film cannot be shown through CD, DVD, Cable TV, DTH, Internet etc., without the necessary permissions. The order was passed by Justice B R Gawai. The Delhi High Court and the Madras High Court have both granted John Doe orders for blocking websites in the past but this is the first time that the Bombay High Court has granted one in the recent past. Director Kashyap took to Twitter to explain his side of the story. He wrote, “The order has been taken by investing parties to protect their investment but they have assured me that it will be used responsibly and I can argue with them about not taking down entire sites and just the URL’s and they have assured they will do that, beyond that i actually have no say in the matter legally as it’s not my money, but whole sites getting blocked should not happen because of GoW, I will fight for that and I have been told that now all studios are taking that order for all releases.” The film, which was screened at the recently-concluded Cannes Film festival, is all set to hit the screens on June 22. (Agencies)

Length of a role doesn?t matter to Naseer

MUMBAI, June 19: Veteran actor Naseerudin Shah, who will soon be seen in Kabeer Kaushik’s forthcoming film Maximum, says while selecting a role he gives importance to script and how the film will be made. “These days I don’t think about what my role is in a film before choosing it. The film should be such that makes me feel proud of my association with it, that makes me happy and in which I would enjoy working,” the 61-year-old said here on Monday at the music launch of Maximum. “My agenda is to support a film. I give more importance to the script and the way the film will be made over the length of my role,” he added. Set in Mumbai 2003, the story is about two cops, their journey and struggle for power. In this game, they are not alone. There are conspirators moving at every level. Maximum also features Sonu Sood, Neha Dhupia and Vinay Pathak and hits theatres June 29. (Agencies)

Hooda no longer in Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster sequel

MUMBAI, June 19: Actor Randeep Hooda, who won accolades for his role in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster will reportedly no longer be a part of the sequel due to date issues, claim sources. A source said, “Randeep was always supposed to be a part of the sequel. However, his dates clashed with the shooting of Jism 2. He has been shooting for Jism 2 in Sri Lanka and could not make it to Gujarat where the shooting of Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns is going underway. Moreover, Randeep is also busy with Heroine and Shooter. Because of this, director Tigmanshu Dhulia has decided to do away with the entire track featuring Hooda and Mahie Gill.” Confirming the news, the D actor was quoted saying, “I am trying to make it and be a part of the sequel but I have been shooting back to back for my three films and its hectic. So I have been unable to shoot for the film.” (Agencies)

Vicky Donor team to come together for two more movies

MUMBAI, June19: Actor turned producer John Abraham’s maiden venture Vicky Donor, which was directed by Shoojit Sircar and starred Ayushmann Khurrana, was a major hit, mainly because of the light-hearted way it tackled the sensitive issue of sperm donation and now, it seems that the trio will come together for two more films in the near future. Confirming the news, Sircar said that they are indeed going to do two more films together and that they are currently finalizing the details of one film whereas the other is still being scripted. Sircar also shed some light on one of the films titled Hamara Bajaj and claimed that the film revolves around a struggling actor from a small town. Sircar was quoted saying, “The film is about all that he goes through to showcase his skills and turn his starry dreams into reality. It’s a love story.” (Agencies)

Saif-Luthria to reunite after 13 years

MUMBAI, June 19: It was in the year 1999 that Saif Ali Khan and the then relatively unknown director Milan Luthria had come together for Kachche Dhaage, which also starred Ajay Devgn. Now, more than a decade later, the two are planning to reunite again for an out and out entertainer film, which will be produced by Bhushan Kumar, the head honcho of T-Series. Confirming the news, Luthria said, “Though we have not worked together after 1999, Saif has constantly remained in touch. The other day, we were speaking to each other over the phone when he reminded me about our plans to reunite on another project after Kachche Dhaage. That’s when I narrated a plot where the protagonist’s character matched him to the hilt. He was very thrilled and agreed to do the film over the phone itself. It was instinctive for both of us.” The Agent Vinod star is currently in Turkey shooting for Race 2 whereas Luthria is working on the gangland sequel Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2. (Agencies)