BHUBANESWAR: Branding Sangh Parivar as a 'fundamentalist' grouping, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda has said senior BJP leader L K Advani and VHP's
Ashok Singal and Pravin Togadia are "natural targets" of the Left wing extremists as they are instigating communal passion.
Panda alias Sunil, who met a group of journalists at an undisclosed place in the state yesterday, said Maoists were in search of an opportunity to eliminate the three leaders "as they are instigating communal passion in the country".
A transcript of the press conference was made available to PTI today.
"We will kill the trio whenever a chance is available," Panda who was declared as 'most wanted by Orissa Police said.
"These leaders always come to meet the people under the protection of CRPF jawans. Therefore, we could not kill them till now," Panda, who is the secretary of the state organising committee of CPI (Maoist), said.
Admitting that the Maoists had for the first time intervened in any religious dispute by killing Laxamananda Saraswati, Panda said they wanted to create a casteless society devoid of exploitation where the people would not face discrimination of any kind.
Asked whether Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was also in the hit-list of Maoists, Panda said: "No.
"It is a fact that we are angry with Patnaik for running the government in Orissa at the instruction of BJP leaders. But he is not in our target."
The Maoist leader asked Patnaik to work for the people instead of appeasing BJP leaders.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
तिरंगे की आड़ में जी रहे हैं पाकिस्तानी
Oct 04, 09:04 pm
टोक्यो। दुनिया भर में इस्लामिक कट्टरपंथ और आतंकवाद के कारण बदनाम हो रहे पाकिस्तान के प्रवासी नागरिक जापान में अपनी पहचान एक हिंदुस्तानी के रूप में कायम कर सुकून अनुभव कर रहे हैं।
जापान की राजधानी टोक्यो में एक हजार से भी ज्यादा भारतीय भोजन परोसने वाले रेस्तरां है जिनमें से 80 फीसदी से ज्यादा के मालिक कराची, इस्लामाबाद, रावलपिंडी, लाहौर या मुल्तान के रहने वाले हैं, लेकिन उनके रेस्तरां के साइनबोर्ड में भारतीय तिरंगे ध्वज बड़ी शान से उकेरे हुए दिखाई देते हैं। कुछ ही रेस्तरां के साइनबोर्डो पर पाकिस्तानी झंडा दिखता है और वह भी छोटा और हाशिए पर। इतना ही नहीं, अंदर भी दीवारों पर भारतीय ब्रांडों की बीयर, साट ड्रिंक्स एवं अन्य उत्पादों के विज्ञापन पोस्टर लगे देखे जा सकते हैं।
एक पाकिस्तानी व्यवसायी ने तो अपने करीब 50 रेस्तरां की श्रृंखला का नाम ही ग्रेट इंडिया रखा हुआ है। सिद्दीकी खाना, पोटोहार, ओल्ड देहली आदि ऐसी ही रेस्तरां श्रृंखलाओंमें से कुछ है। इन रेस्तरां में काम करने वालों में ज्यादातर पाकिस्तानी, बांग्लादेशी और नेपाली नागरिक हैं।
दिल्ली के साउथ एक्सटेंशन जैसे यहां के इलाके शिन्जूकू में पोटोहार समूह के एक रेस्तरां में काम करने वाले इस्लामाबाद के मोहम्मद सगीर और कोलकाता के शेख करीमुद्दीन भाइयों की तरह काम करते हैं और उनके रेस्तरां में अगर कभी कोई हिंदुस्तानी या पाकिस्तानी पहुंच जाए तो वे खूब खुश होकर बड़ी खातिरदारी करते हैं। सगीर से पूछा गया कि रेस्तरां का मालिक पाकिस्तानी है उसके मैनेजर की हैसियत वाले सगीर भी पाकिस्तान के हैं तो फिर रेस्तरां पर सिर्फ भारतीय झंडा और भारत का नाम क्यों, पाकिस्तान का नाम और पहचान क्यों नहीं। इस पर वह अचकचा गए और करीम का मुंह ताकने लगे, फिर कहा कि साहब हिंदुस्तान को दुनिया जानती है सलाम करती है। पाकिस्तान को कौन मानता है। वहां के हालात आप भी जानते ही होंगे। दो मिनट रुक कर वह फिर बोले आखिर हम अलग हैं कहां। सीमा बंट जाने से खान-पान रहन-सहन और बोली थोड़े ही बदल जाती है।
सगीर से पूछा गया कि क्या ऐसी उनकी निजी राय है। टोक्यो में रह रहे बाकी पाकिस्तानियों की क्या राय है। उन्होंने कहा कि न सिर्फ टोक्यो बल्कि ओसाका, नीगाई, नागासाकी आदि शहरों में भी रहने वाले पाकिस्तानियों की भी ऐसी ही सोच है। जापान में पीपुल्स टू पीपुल्स डिप्लोमेसी में सक्रिय इंडिया सेंटर फाउंडेशन के प्रमुख विभव क्रांत उपाध्याय कहते हैं कि इस तरह की विचारधारा एक देश की जनता के मन में दूसरे देश के लोगों की छवि और आपसी व्यावसायिक हितों के कारण उत्पन्न होती है। वैसे उपाध्याय इसे एक दूसरे नजरिए से भी देखते हैं। वह कहते है कि अगर प्रवासी पाकिस्तानी अपनी इसी सोच का प्रचार स्वदेश में भी करें तो पाकिस्तानियों को अपनी छवि सुधारने और पूर्वाग्रहों से मुक्त होने की प्रेरणा मिलेगी, जिससे भारत की एक बड़ी समस्या के समाधान में भी मदद मिल सकेगी।
टोक्यो की आबादी करीब पौने दो करोड़ है। यहां रोजाना करीब डेढ़ लाख जापानी नागरिक शहर के इन भारतीय रेस्तरांओं में भारतीय करी और नान का लुत्फ उठाते है। टोक्यो में तो महज दो ढ़ाई हजार भारतीय परिवार ही रहते हैं। ऐसे में भारतीय रेस्तरांओं का धन्धा जापानियों की पंसद पर टिका है। यही वजह है कि प्रवासी पाकिस्तानियों की सोच भारतीय तिरंगे के नीचे ही अपनी पहचान कायम करके तरक्की की राह ढूंढती है।
टोक्यो। दुनिया भर में इस्लामिक कट्टरपंथ और आतंकवाद के कारण बदनाम हो रहे पाकिस्तान के प्रवासी नागरिक जापान में अपनी पहचान एक हिंदुस्तानी के रूप में कायम कर सुकून अनुभव कर रहे हैं।
जापान की राजधानी टोक्यो में एक हजार से भी ज्यादा भारतीय भोजन परोसने वाले रेस्तरां है जिनमें से 80 फीसदी से ज्यादा के मालिक कराची, इस्लामाबाद, रावलपिंडी, लाहौर या मुल्तान के रहने वाले हैं, लेकिन उनके रेस्तरां के साइनबोर्ड में भारतीय तिरंगे ध्वज बड़ी शान से उकेरे हुए दिखाई देते हैं। कुछ ही रेस्तरां के साइनबोर्डो पर पाकिस्तानी झंडा दिखता है और वह भी छोटा और हाशिए पर। इतना ही नहीं, अंदर भी दीवारों पर भारतीय ब्रांडों की बीयर, साट ड्रिंक्स एवं अन्य उत्पादों के विज्ञापन पोस्टर लगे देखे जा सकते हैं।
एक पाकिस्तानी व्यवसायी ने तो अपने करीब 50 रेस्तरां की श्रृंखला का नाम ही ग्रेट इंडिया रखा हुआ है। सिद्दीकी खाना, पोटोहार, ओल्ड देहली आदि ऐसी ही रेस्तरां श्रृंखलाओंमें से कुछ है। इन रेस्तरां में काम करने वालों में ज्यादातर पाकिस्तानी, बांग्लादेशी और नेपाली नागरिक हैं।
दिल्ली के साउथ एक्सटेंशन जैसे यहां के इलाके शिन्जूकू में पोटोहार समूह के एक रेस्तरां में काम करने वाले इस्लामाबाद के मोहम्मद सगीर और कोलकाता के शेख करीमुद्दीन भाइयों की तरह काम करते हैं और उनके रेस्तरां में अगर कभी कोई हिंदुस्तानी या पाकिस्तानी पहुंच जाए तो वे खूब खुश होकर बड़ी खातिरदारी करते हैं। सगीर से पूछा गया कि रेस्तरां का मालिक पाकिस्तानी है उसके मैनेजर की हैसियत वाले सगीर भी पाकिस्तान के हैं तो फिर रेस्तरां पर सिर्फ भारतीय झंडा और भारत का नाम क्यों, पाकिस्तान का नाम और पहचान क्यों नहीं। इस पर वह अचकचा गए और करीम का मुंह ताकने लगे, फिर कहा कि साहब हिंदुस्तान को दुनिया जानती है सलाम करती है। पाकिस्तान को कौन मानता है। वहां के हालात आप भी जानते ही होंगे। दो मिनट रुक कर वह फिर बोले आखिर हम अलग हैं कहां। सीमा बंट जाने से खान-पान रहन-सहन और बोली थोड़े ही बदल जाती है।
सगीर से पूछा गया कि क्या ऐसी उनकी निजी राय है। टोक्यो में रह रहे बाकी पाकिस्तानियों की क्या राय है। उन्होंने कहा कि न सिर्फ टोक्यो बल्कि ओसाका, नीगाई, नागासाकी आदि शहरों में भी रहने वाले पाकिस्तानियों की भी ऐसी ही सोच है। जापान में पीपुल्स टू पीपुल्स डिप्लोमेसी में सक्रिय इंडिया सेंटर फाउंडेशन के प्रमुख विभव क्रांत उपाध्याय कहते हैं कि इस तरह की विचारधारा एक देश की जनता के मन में दूसरे देश के लोगों की छवि और आपसी व्यावसायिक हितों के कारण उत्पन्न होती है। वैसे उपाध्याय इसे एक दूसरे नजरिए से भी देखते हैं। वह कहते है कि अगर प्रवासी पाकिस्तानी अपनी इसी सोच का प्रचार स्वदेश में भी करें तो पाकिस्तानियों को अपनी छवि सुधारने और पूर्वाग्रहों से मुक्त होने की प्रेरणा मिलेगी, जिससे भारत की एक बड़ी समस्या के समाधान में भी मदद मिल सकेगी।
टोक्यो की आबादी करीब पौने दो करोड़ है। यहां रोजाना करीब डेढ़ लाख जापानी नागरिक शहर के इन भारतीय रेस्तरांओं में भारतीय करी और नान का लुत्फ उठाते है। टोक्यो में तो महज दो ढ़ाई हजार भारतीय परिवार ही रहते हैं। ऐसे में भारतीय रेस्तरांओं का धन्धा जापानियों की पंसद पर टिका है। यही वजह है कि प्रवासी पाकिस्तानियों की सोच भारतीय तिरंगे के नीचे ही अपनी पहचान कायम करके तरक्की की राह ढूंढती है।
Soft Drinks - Hard Facts
Soft drinks are today's trend or much better, you can call them 'fashion' especially among the youth. Do you know that this colorful liquid does not do a bit good to you?
Soft drinks are everywhere you look today. From vending machines to school canteens to TV ads or giant billboards as you drive to work, it's hard for you (or your kids) to escape them. Recently, with concerns over childhood obesity, they've been deemed to be a bit too "cool for school" and most dentists will warn you of the effect of their acid and sugar on teeth. But what are the nutrition issues for adults? And what should you really choose to get your fizz?
Just think before you gulp down soft drink, what are you consuming? Scientific studies reveal that 1 to 1.5 liters of soft drinks a day can raise risks of numerous health problems, such as: To help separate fact from fiction,lets review the latest scientific findings, be forewarned, however: The results can be a lot like soft drinks themselves, both sweet and sticky.
Obesity:
Soft drinks are mainly composed of filtered H2O, artificial additives and refined sugar. Thus, they lack nutritional value and only add up calories through their refined sugar; therefore, they make you gain weight. But is shifting to "Diet Soft Drink" the solution? The fact is that diet soft drinks contain aspartame (an artificial low-calorie sweetener). Although aspartame does not add up the calories it makes you feel hungrier and crave for food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer allows foods containing aspartame to be labeled as "weight reduction product ". Now it insists to label these products simply as "Diet Drink" or "Diet Food ". Research also shows that aspartame causes migraines, dizziness and more over it reduces your memory.
Tooth Decay:
Sugar isn't the only ingredient in soft drinks that causes tooth problems(like caries). The acids in soda pop are also notorious for etching tooth enamel in ways that can lead to cavities. Acid begins to dissolve tooth enamel in only 20 minutes.Phosphoric acid, present in carbonated drinks is violently poisonous, it de-oxidizes blood. In detergent manufacturing industries, phosphoric acid is used to produce water softener. Water softener removes Ca²+ and Mg²+ ion from hard water. In human body, the function remains the same by removing Ca²+ from bones causing osteoporosis (porous bones).
Effect of Caffeine:
In most of carbonated beverages, caffeine is deliberately added to make it addictive. Caffeine in carbonated drink is more readily absorbed than any other drink (like coffee, chocolate etc.). Caffeine disturbs sleep by stimulating nervous system. It also makes premenstrual syndrome worse, causes dehydration and induces stomach to produce acids, aggravating hyperacidity. Since caffeine disturbs sleep, the body is more likely to produce C - reactive protein, which plays an important role in heart disease.
Bone risks?
There are also studies showing that cola drinks may lead to a decrease in bone density in women. The researchers have found that this is not due to women having lower calcium intakes from less milk consumption or due to the caffeine in soft drinks causing bone mineral loss. It's thought that it may in fact be due to phosphoric acid in cola drinks which is thought to interfere with bone absorption of calcium. Phosphoric acid, present in carbonated drinks is violently poisonous, it de-oxidizes blood. In detergent manufacturing industries, phosphoric acid is used to produce water softener. Water softener removes Ca²+ and Mg²+ ion from hard water. In human body, the function remains the same by removing Ca²+ from bones causing osteoporosis (porous bones).
Malnutrition:
Some people who are addicted to soft drinks deprive themselves from food until they become victims of malnutrition. Since gastrointestinal disturbance of these drinks lead to poor appetite thus surviving on soft drinks and little amount of food will cause malnutrition, retarded growth and other physiological problems.
Effect on Gastro-Intestinal System:
When you open the bottle of a soft drink, bubbles and fizz are immediately emitted out. This is due to phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide (CO2) content, which make these drinks highly acidic. The pH of soft drink ranges from 2.5-3.4 which generates a highly acidic environment in the stomach. Throughout the digestive system, that starts from the mouth and ends up at the anus (liver, gallbladder and pancreas play the role of accessory organs) only the stomach can resist an acidic environment up to pH 2.0. But before the acidity of soft drink reaches the stomach it passes through all the other organs involved in the digestive system thus causing an abnormal acidic environment. Hence the linings of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus are highly sensitive to acids. Also there is a very common practice of taking soft drinks when a person suffers from acidity or after having a heavy meal. However, this is wrong. The phosphoric acid present in soft drink competes with the hydrochloric acid of the stomach and affects its functions. When the stomach becomes ineffective, food remains undigested causing indigestion, gassiness or bloating (swelling of stomach). Thus people who are suffering from acidity should not be drinking soft drinks because actually it increases acidity further.
Effect on Kidneys:
Kidneys are less able to excrete phosphoric acid when it is in excess. Thus, there is extra work for kidney. Soft drinks remove Calcium from the body, causing an excess amount of Calcium that tend to be deposited in kidney, resulting in nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). Effect on Skin: Acidic blood affects the action of glutathione, which is an antioxidant enzyme. In addition, these drinks lack vitamins and minerals. By taking these drinks, people cut their intake of fresh juices, milk and even water and deprive themselves from essential vitamins and minerals that are mandatory for skin. Thus, the skin becomes more prone to wrinkles and aging.
Top choice?
Water is still the one, however, with zero sugar and virtually no kilojoules, while diet or "no sugar".
Prevention:
Use straw to reduce direct contact with teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking aerated drink. Or simply do not drink soft drinks.
Remember that diseases do not develop overnight but do develop over the years with improper dietary habits. Also each individual has different tolerance level. So think of all long term effects on your body. The multitude side effects depend on your genetics and an individual's physical strength. Chronic illnesses are not a direct cause but they are triggered or worsened by bad food habits.
Soft drinks are everywhere you look today. From vending machines to school canteens to TV ads or giant billboards as you drive to work, it's hard for you (or your kids) to escape them. Recently, with concerns over childhood obesity, they've been deemed to be a bit too "cool for school" and most dentists will warn you of the effect of their acid and sugar on teeth. But what are the nutrition issues for adults? And what should you really choose to get your fizz?
Just think before you gulp down soft drink, what are you consuming? Scientific studies reveal that 1 to 1.5 liters of soft drinks a day can raise risks of numerous health problems, such as: To help separate fact from fiction,lets review the latest scientific findings, be forewarned, however: The results can be a lot like soft drinks themselves, both sweet and sticky.
Obesity:
Soft drinks are mainly composed of filtered H2O, artificial additives and refined sugar. Thus, they lack nutritional value and only add up calories through their refined sugar; therefore, they make you gain weight. But is shifting to "Diet Soft Drink" the solution? The fact is that diet soft drinks contain aspartame (an artificial low-calorie sweetener). Although aspartame does not add up the calories it makes you feel hungrier and crave for food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer allows foods containing aspartame to be labeled as "weight reduction product ". Now it insists to label these products simply as "Diet Drink" or "Diet Food ". Research also shows that aspartame causes migraines, dizziness and more over it reduces your memory.
Tooth Decay:
Sugar isn't the only ingredient in soft drinks that causes tooth problems(like caries). The acids in soda pop are also notorious for etching tooth enamel in ways that can lead to cavities. Acid begins to dissolve tooth enamel in only 20 minutes.Phosphoric acid, present in carbonated drinks is violently poisonous, it de-oxidizes blood. In detergent manufacturing industries, phosphoric acid is used to produce water softener. Water softener removes Ca²+ and Mg²+ ion from hard water. In human body, the function remains the same by removing Ca²+ from bones causing osteoporosis (porous bones).
Effect of Caffeine:
In most of carbonated beverages, caffeine is deliberately added to make it addictive. Caffeine in carbonated drink is more readily absorbed than any other drink (like coffee, chocolate etc.). Caffeine disturbs sleep by stimulating nervous system. It also makes premenstrual syndrome worse, causes dehydration and induces stomach to produce acids, aggravating hyperacidity. Since caffeine disturbs sleep, the body is more likely to produce C - reactive protein, which plays an important role in heart disease.
Bone risks?
There are also studies showing that cola drinks may lead to a decrease in bone density in women. The researchers have found that this is not due to women having lower calcium intakes from less milk consumption or due to the caffeine in soft drinks causing bone mineral loss. It's thought that it may in fact be due to phosphoric acid in cola drinks which is thought to interfere with bone absorption of calcium. Phosphoric acid, present in carbonated drinks is violently poisonous, it de-oxidizes blood. In detergent manufacturing industries, phosphoric acid is used to produce water softener. Water softener removes Ca²+ and Mg²+ ion from hard water. In human body, the function remains the same by removing Ca²+ from bones causing osteoporosis (porous bones).
Malnutrition:
Some people who are addicted to soft drinks deprive themselves from food until they become victims of malnutrition. Since gastrointestinal disturbance of these drinks lead to poor appetite thus surviving on soft drinks and little amount of food will cause malnutrition, retarded growth and other physiological problems.
Effect on Gastro-Intestinal System:
When you open the bottle of a soft drink, bubbles and fizz are immediately emitted out. This is due to phosphoric acid and carbon dioxide (CO2) content, which make these drinks highly acidic. The pH of soft drink ranges from 2.5-3.4 which generates a highly acidic environment in the stomach. Throughout the digestive system, that starts from the mouth and ends up at the anus (liver, gallbladder and pancreas play the role of accessory organs) only the stomach can resist an acidic environment up to pH 2.0. But before the acidity of soft drink reaches the stomach it passes through all the other organs involved in the digestive system thus causing an abnormal acidic environment. Hence the linings of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus are highly sensitive to acids. Also there is a very common practice of taking soft drinks when a person suffers from acidity or after having a heavy meal. However, this is wrong. The phosphoric acid present in soft drink competes with the hydrochloric acid of the stomach and affects its functions. When the stomach becomes ineffective, food remains undigested causing indigestion, gassiness or bloating (swelling of stomach). Thus people who are suffering from acidity should not be drinking soft drinks because actually it increases acidity further.
Effect on Kidneys:
Kidneys are less able to excrete phosphoric acid when it is in excess. Thus, there is extra work for kidney. Soft drinks remove Calcium from the body, causing an excess amount of Calcium that tend to be deposited in kidney, resulting in nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). Effect on Skin: Acidic blood affects the action of glutathione, which is an antioxidant enzyme. In addition, these drinks lack vitamins and minerals. By taking these drinks, people cut their intake of fresh juices, milk and even water and deprive themselves from essential vitamins and minerals that are mandatory for skin. Thus, the skin becomes more prone to wrinkles and aging.
Top choice?
Water is still the one, however, with zero sugar and virtually no kilojoules, while diet or "no sugar".
Prevention:
Use straw to reduce direct contact with teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking aerated drink. Or simply do not drink soft drinks.
Remember that diseases do not develop overnight but do develop over the years with improper dietary habits. Also each individual has different tolerance level. So think of all long term effects on your body. The multitude side effects depend on your genetics and an individual's physical strength. Chronic illnesses are not a direct cause but they are triggered or worsened by bad food habits.
Coke is spermicidal
Spermicide Coke, stale chips research wins Ig Nobels
Fri Oct 3, 2008 7:01pm EDT
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A researcher who figured out that Coke explodes sperm and scientists who discovered that people will happily eat stale chips if they crunch loudly enough won alternative "Ig Nobel" prizes Thursday.
Other winners included physicists who found out that anything that can tangle, will tangle and a team of biologists who ascertained that dog fleas jump farther than cat fleas.
The Ig Nobels honor real research, but are meant as a funny alternative to next week's deadly serious Nobel prizes for medicine, chemistry, physics, economics, literature and peace.
Awarded by the editors of the Annals of Improbable Research, a scientific humor magazine, the prizes are based on published research, some intended to be humorous but often not. Usually the "honored" researchers go along with the joke.
Deborah Anderson of Boston University Medical Center and colleagues were awarded the chemistry prize for a 1985 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found Coca-Cola kills sperm.
She said she was serious in testing the soft drink because women were using it in a douche as a contraceptive and, later, to try to protect themselves from the AIDS virus.
"It definitely wouldn't work as a contraceptive because sperm swims so fast," Anderson said. But Coke made with sugar quickly kills sperm, she said, probably because sperm soak it up. "The sperm just kind of explode," she said in a telephone interview.
It kills the AIDS virus too, she said.
Fri Oct 3, 2008 7:01pm EDT
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A researcher who figured out that Coke explodes sperm and scientists who discovered that people will happily eat stale chips if they crunch loudly enough won alternative "Ig Nobel" prizes Thursday.
Other winners included physicists who found out that anything that can tangle, will tangle and a team of biologists who ascertained that dog fleas jump farther than cat fleas.
The Ig Nobels honor real research, but are meant as a funny alternative to next week's deadly serious Nobel prizes for medicine, chemistry, physics, economics, literature and peace.
Awarded by the editors of the Annals of Improbable Research, a scientific humor magazine, the prizes are based on published research, some intended to be humorous but often not. Usually the "honored" researchers go along with the joke.
Deborah Anderson of Boston University Medical Center and colleagues were awarded the chemistry prize for a 1985 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found Coca-Cola kills sperm.
She said she was serious in testing the soft drink because women were using it in a douche as a contraceptive and, later, to try to protect themselves from the AIDS virus.
"It definitely wouldn't work as a contraceptive because sperm swims so fast," Anderson said. But Coke made with sugar quickly kills sperm, she said, probably because sperm soak it up. "The sperm just kind of explode," she said in a telephone interview.
It kills the AIDS virus too, she said.
Friday, October 3, 2008
'India has right to test, others have right to react'
New Delhi, October 3: India said on Friday that despite the nuclear cooperation agreement with the US, the country still retains the right to conduct a nuclear test, while others have a right to react to such an incident.
"...India has the right to test, others have the right to react," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee when asked to comment on India's options to conduct an atomic test after signing the Indo-US nuclear deal.
However, India had declared a voluntary moratorium on future nuclear tests after the 1998 atomic tests at Pokhran in Rajasthan, Mukherjee told a news channel.
"In regard to testing, I have already stated we have voluntarily declared moratorium on the further tests and we will continue to bind ourselves by this book," he said.
However, the minister made it clear that New Delhi would not like to convert the voluntary moratorium on testing into a treaty-bound obligation.
"We would not like to convert this voluntary moratorium into a treaty-bound obligation. That position has been maintained," Mukherjee said.
The nuclear deal with the US has opened nuclear trade to those countries which are interested in having the commerce with India, he said.
Mukherjee said India's nuclear trade will depend on the type of bi-lateral, bi-party agreements which will have to be entered into with the countries concerned.
The US Senate passed the Indo-US civil nuclear deal with an overwhelming majority and is expected to be signed by Mukherjee and his American counterpart Condoleezza Rice on Saturday.
"...India has the right to test, others have the right to react," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee when asked to comment on India's options to conduct an atomic test after signing the Indo-US nuclear deal.
However, India had declared a voluntary moratorium on future nuclear tests after the 1998 atomic tests at Pokhran in Rajasthan, Mukherjee told a news channel.
"In regard to testing, I have already stated we have voluntarily declared moratorium on the further tests and we will continue to bind ourselves by this book," he said.
However, the minister made it clear that New Delhi would not like to convert the voluntary moratorium on testing into a treaty-bound obligation.
"We would not like to convert this voluntary moratorium into a treaty-bound obligation. That position has been maintained," Mukherjee said.
The nuclear deal with the US has opened nuclear trade to those countries which are interested in having the commerce with India, he said.
Mukherjee said India's nuclear trade will depend on the type of bi-lateral, bi-party agreements which will have to be entered into with the countries concerned.
The US Senate passed the Indo-US civil nuclear deal with an overwhelming majority and is expected to be signed by Mukherjee and his American counterpart Condoleezza Rice on Saturday.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Rushdie glad he wrote 'Satanic Verses'
London, October 1: Notwithstanding the death threats he faced for over a decade for penning the controversial book, India-born author Sir Salman Rushdie says he is still glad that he wrote 'The Satanic Verses'.
Rushdie's remarks about the book he wrote 20 years ago came in the second of a series of interviews with leading cultural figures filmed exclusively for 'The Times' daily.
He said he would regret not having written a book confronting major religious and philosophical questions.
"The question I'm always asking myself is; are we masters or victims? Do we make history or does history make us? Do we shape the world or are we just shaped by it?
"The question of do we have agency in our lives or whether we are just passive victims of events, I think, a great question and one that I have always tried to ask. In that sense I wouldn't not have wanted to be the writer that asked it," he told Australian broadcaster Cilve James.
Rushdie's comments came at a time when extremists have again driven a literary figure into hiding – this time Martin Rynja, a Dutch-born London publisher who had agreed to release 'The Jewel of Medina', a controversial novel about the Prophet Muhammad.
Rynja's home in Islington was firebombed on Saturday. Under-cover police tipped him off hours earlier and arrested three men from East London.
Rushdie, in the interview, said he is an atheist who found dead religions "much more attractive" but added he has nothing against true believers until their faith spills over into the public sphere and becomes "my business".
The Satanic Verses was banned in India, and Ayatollah Khomeini, then supreme leader of Iran, in 1989 issued a 'fatwa' calling on all Muslims to murder Rushdie forcing him to go into hiding for the best part of ten years.
Rushdie's remarks about the book he wrote 20 years ago came in the second of a series of interviews with leading cultural figures filmed exclusively for 'The Times' daily.
He said he would regret not having written a book confronting major religious and philosophical questions.
"The question I'm always asking myself is; are we masters or victims? Do we make history or does history make us? Do we shape the world or are we just shaped by it?
"The question of do we have agency in our lives or whether we are just passive victims of events, I think, a great question and one that I have always tried to ask. In that sense I wouldn't not have wanted to be the writer that asked it," he told Australian broadcaster Cilve James.
Rushdie's comments came at a time when extremists have again driven a literary figure into hiding – this time Martin Rynja, a Dutch-born London publisher who had agreed to release 'The Jewel of Medina', a controversial novel about the Prophet Muhammad.
Rynja's home in Islington was firebombed on Saturday. Under-cover police tipped him off hours earlier and arrested three men from East London.
Rushdie, in the interview, said he is an atheist who found dead religions "much more attractive" but added he has nothing against true believers until their faith spills over into the public sphere and becomes "my business".
The Satanic Verses was banned in India, and Ayatollah Khomeini, then supreme leader of Iran, in 1989 issued a 'fatwa' calling on all Muslims to murder Rushdie forcing him to go into hiding for the best part of ten years.
Rumours of a ‘ghost’ take off at BIAL
Hemanth C S | ENS29 Sep 2008 05:11:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: After capacity constraints, connectivity hurdles and criticism from all and sundry over shabby infrastructure, there is now a problem quite without precedent at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).
Rumours have been doing the rounds for the past week that airport staff have been seeing ghosts on the runway. The description of the ghost has been varied: its gender, attire and features all change, depending on who sees it. A few claim that the ghost is a woman in a white saree, while others say the mysterious creature is headless.
A Kingfisher employee who works at the Cargo section told to this website's newspaper that the ghost, a woman in a white saree with her hair flying loose, has been wandering on the runway. He said this saree-clad ghost had disrupted flight movements. “A pilot of an international carrier had to abort landing after spotting a ‘woman’ with outstretched hands in the middle of the runway. Finally, after two failed attempts, when the ‘woman’ did not move from the runway, the pilot could only land in his third attempt,” he said.
Several employees say another ghost, a headless creature, was spotted near the escalators in the terminal area and in the parking bays. A photograph of the ghost is also said to have been captured on an infra-red camera by an employee.
“All that was visible on the photograph was a skeletal figure of the ‘woman’. This was later passed on via bluetooth to mobile phones and posted on YouTube,” he said. On checking, however, one only got images of ghosts wandering about airports in Thailand and Malaysia; there was nothing on our own native ghost! BIA officials flatly deny these rumours: there was no ghost buster team deployed at the airport. “It’s hard to convince someone to come down from New Delhi to investigate a bhoot. If a flight had to be diverted, we would need to take permissions. There are 10 airport controllers and none of them have seen the woman on the runway. One of the staff had a picture on his mobile, but it cannot be true,” said a BIAL official.
BANGALORE: After capacity constraints, connectivity hurdles and criticism from all and sundry over shabby infrastructure, there is now a problem quite without precedent at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).
Rumours have been doing the rounds for the past week that airport staff have been seeing ghosts on the runway. The description of the ghost has been varied: its gender, attire and features all change, depending on who sees it. A few claim that the ghost is a woman in a white saree, while others say the mysterious creature is headless.
A Kingfisher employee who works at the Cargo section told to this website's newspaper that the ghost, a woman in a white saree with her hair flying loose, has been wandering on the runway. He said this saree-clad ghost had disrupted flight movements. “A pilot of an international carrier had to abort landing after spotting a ‘woman’ with outstretched hands in the middle of the runway. Finally, after two failed attempts, when the ‘woman’ did not move from the runway, the pilot could only land in his third attempt,” he said.
Several employees say another ghost, a headless creature, was spotted near the escalators in the terminal area and in the parking bays. A photograph of the ghost is also said to have been captured on an infra-red camera by an employee.
“All that was visible on the photograph was a skeletal figure of the ‘woman’. This was later passed on via bluetooth to mobile phones and posted on YouTube,” he said. On checking, however, one only got images of ghosts wandering about airports in Thailand and Malaysia; there was nothing on our own native ghost! BIA officials flatly deny these rumours: there was no ghost buster team deployed at the airport. “It’s hard to convince someone to come down from New Delhi to investigate a bhoot. If a flight had to be diverted, we would need to take permissions. There are 10 airport controllers and none of them have seen the woman on the runway. One of the staff had a picture on his mobile, but it cannot be true,” said a BIAL official.
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