Statement by the Prime Minister prior to his departure for USA and Brazil

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh being received on his arrival at the Frankfurt International Airport on his way to Washington on April 10, 2010. (Photo by PIB No:CNR-31177)
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(PIB NEWS) Following is the text of the statement by the Prime Minister prior to his departure for USA and Brazil:-"I am leaving tomorrow to attend the Nuclear Security Summit being hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington DC, and the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) and Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) Summits being hosted by President Lula da Silva in Brasilia. India welcomes President Obama’s initiative to hold a Summit on Nuclear Security. Nuclear energy is poised to play a growing role in addressing the developmental challenges of our times. This will be possible only if we, as individual nations, and as a global community ensure the highest standards of security which reinforce public faith in the benefits of nuclear science. India is an important stakeholder in this global endeavour.I expect the Summit to focus on nuclear terrorism and the security of sensitive nuclear materials and technologies. These are legitimate concerns which require firm responses. India has a well developed indigenous nuclear energy programme, which dates back six decades. We have an impeccable record of security, safety and non-proliferation which reflects our conduct as a responsible nuclear power. India has been a consistent advocate of complete and universal global nuclear disarmament. We were among the first countries in the world to call for a world free of nuclear weapons. I am encouraged by the fact that this approach is finding greater resonance today. We will continue to call for more meaningful progress in this direction. During my stay in Washington I look forward to having bilateral meetings with President Obama, President Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan, President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Harper of Canada and other world leaders. From Washington, I will proceed to Brasilia to attend the fourth IBSA Summit and the second BRIC Summit. These groupings reflect the growing role of emerging economies in shaping the global economic order. The IBSA process has come of age. Today, it encompasses a wide range of activities which supplement the excellent bilateral relations we enjoy with each of these countries. Our coordination on important international issues has expanded, and our trilateral cooperation is beginning to bear fruit in many sectors. The BRIC countries are among the largest and fastest growing economies with rich human and material resources. They represent the future of the global economic landscape. We have a high stake in the revival of the global economy, an open trading system, energy security, combating climate change and addressing non-traditional threats to international security. I will also hold separate bilateral discussions with President Lula da Silva. Relations with Brazil are an important pillar of our policy towards Latin America and have witnessed substantial expansion in recent years. In Brasilia I will also have bilateral meetings with President Hu Jintao of China and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia."
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Mullahs frown at Sania-Shoaib pre-marriage ‘proximity’

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza’s “physical proximity” with her fiance Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has come in for strong disapproval from the Islamic clergy.The Lucknow-based Darul-Uloom Nadwatul-Ulama and the Deoband-based School of Islamic Studies have said that Sania and Shoaib’s proximity before marriage went against the tenets of Islam.“Physical proximity between a bride and groom before the marriage is not acceptable in Islam. As such, the fact that Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik were living under a common roof does not have sanction under the Shariat,” Lucknow’s Naib Imam Maulana Khalid Rasheed said Friday.
The Maulana, who belongs to the Nadwa school of Islamic thought and was also the head of Lucknow’s oldest seminary, Firangi Mahal, said: “It would be appropriate if Shoaib did not reside in the same house as Sania.”The Deoband Islamic School too has serious objections against Sania and Shoaib occupying the same roof in Hyderabad, where the cricketer is living in his would-be wife’s home.“The Holy Quran does not permit a bride and groom to be living under a common roof before their nikah (wedding),” said Mufti Ashraf Farouqui of the fatwa department at the Deoband School.“Sania and Shoaib have clearly violated the tenets of Islam by living in the same house without getting married, and what is worse is that even Sania’s parents have not cared to prevent that,” he said.“Islam strictly bans private meetings, chatting or mingling of the opposite sexes unless the male and female were marries couples,” he pointed out.Farouqui was firmly of the view that Shoaib and Sania had no business to be mixing around in public “until they were declared husband and wife”.Significantly, even the All India Muslim Personal Law Board for Women has disapproved of the Sania-Shoaib pre-wedding proximity. “Islam does not believe in double standards, so there cannot be a separate law for celebrities like Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik. They ought to abide by the tenets of the Quran,” a spokesperson said.  (way2online)

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Shoaib gave false information in divorce paper?

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, who is set to marry Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza, could land in fresh trouble for furnishing false information while giving divorce to his first wife Ayesha Siddiqui, according to official documents.The divorce and agreement papers, which Shoaib signed April 7, have the name of his late father as Malik Saleem Hussain while the invitation for the April 15 wedding reception carries the name of his father as Malik Faqeer Hussain, the documents show.According to legal experts, Shoaib could face legal action if Ayesha’s family files a case against him on charges of furnishing false information.The wrong name given in divorce certificate and the agreement signed on Rs.100 stamp paper could be yet another attempt by Shoaib to show that he did not marry Ayesha, they said.The former Pakistani skipper divorced Ayesha Wednesday after she filed a police case against him for cheating. Sania’s family members and some community elders convinced him to end the row through divorce.It was immediately not known if Ayesha’s family would again approach the police against Shoaib.The Pakistani star is still caught in a legal mesh as the police have not yet returned his passport which was seized about a week ago.Though Ayesha has informed the police that she was withdrawing her complaint, Shoaib would get back his passport only after completing legal formalities.With police yet to return Shoaib’s passport, the qazi expressed his inability to perform the ‘nikah’, which was scheduled to take place Friday evening.Qazis in Hyderabad do not perform marriages of foreigners without verifying the passport and no-objection certificates from their respective governments.Sources said the nikah would now be possible any day before April 15, the day when Sania’s family has planned to host a wedding reception at the Taj Krishna hotel here. (way2online)
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Saif and Kareena in marriage plans!

It looks like this is the marriage season. Shoaib and Sania’s marriage seems to have brought the marriage season to bollywood. Saif and Kareena have been in the limelight ever since their affair became public and many are waiting for their marriage to happen. Although there is no official confirmation from the pair, Bollywood is at buzz about their wedding now.“They are seriously thinking of marriage and both the families are working towards it. Saif’s parents want to see their son getting married again, so are Kareena’s parents. In fact, Karisma has already spoken to her sister to tie the knot soon,” said our source.      (thanks to way2online)
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Breakthrough in probe into communal riots

Hyderabad, Apr 10 : The City police got a breakthrough in the investigation into the communal riots which broke out on March 27 with the arrest of three people belonging to a particualr community midnight last night.Police are on the look-out for three more people in connection with the violence.The accused were sent to judicial remand, a police press note here tonight said. Investigation done so far revealed that when people of majority community were trying to put flags in connection with religious festival on March 30, some members of the particular minority community objected to removal of their religious flags. Following this, some members of the majority community attacked some members of the particular minority community in the Moosabowli area. On the next day, the accused attacked the members of the majority community with lethal weapons and committed four communal offences on March 28 and March 29 wherein a member of the majority community died due to stab injuries. Another person, who was in a critical condition, died on April seven. A two-wheeler was torched and three people, including a Andhra Pradesh Special Police Constable, were injured.The six accused and others were booked for offences punishable under Sections 147, 148, 427, 153 (A), 302 IPC read with 149 IPC, police added.
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Chiranjeevi asks PRP cadre to take on people's issues

Hyderabad, Apr 10: Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) President Chiranjeevi today exhorted his party activists to concentrate on solving burning issues concerning people.Speaking after releasing the list of the 108-member Greater Hyderabad Party Committee, he said the party's base could be strengthened only by interacting with the people at the grassroots level on a regular basis and focusing attention on raising issues concerning the common man, especially price rise and power cuts.Mr Feroz Khan was named Greater Hyderabad City President and Ms Saida Begam the women's wing President.
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Indefinite curfew completely lifted in riot-hit old city

Hyderabad, Apr 10 : The city police today announced complete lifting of indefinite curfew imposed on March 29 as peace returned to thr riot-hit old city of Hyderabad, providing much-needed relief to the people inconvenienced by restrictions for the last 14 days.Hyderabad city Police Commissioner A.K.Khan told mediapersons that as Friday prayers in the old city area passed off peacefully, it was decided to lift the curfew totally during a review meeting with senior police officials.As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders would be in force in the 25 police station limits for two days. All processions, meetings and demonstrations were banned in these areas, he added.After relaxing curfew for two hours on April 1 in 17 police station limits, the city police gradually relaxed the curfew period every day, before totally lifting the restrictions today.The indefinite curfew was clamped in the wake of killing of three people since March 27 as violence, which erupted over putting off religious flags, spread outside the old city on March 29.Altogether 30 companies of central paramilitary forces were deployed in the communally-sensitive areas of the old city, besides state police, including personnel of the elite OCTOPUS force raised to combat terror strikes.Police had so far arrested over 250 people in connection with over 167 cases while another 300 people picked up for questioning were let off later.
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Andhra Pradesh govt signs agreement with Tatarstan delegation

Hyderabad, Apr 10 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah today mooted a Festival of Andhra Pradesh in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia and a Festival of Tatarstan here to boost bilateral cultural ties and tourism activities.He was speaking at the signing of 'Protocol on the implementation of the agreement between the Government of Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh at Camp Office here.Deputy Prime Minister Valeeva Zilya, who is also the Minister for Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, and State Minister for Tourism and Information Geeta Reddy signed the agreement in the presence of Chief Minister K Rosaiah and others. Describing the signing of the protocol agreement as memorable, the Chief Minister said there is a vast potential to boost bilateral cooperation between Andhra Pradesh and Tatarstan in the areas of Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnologies, Petrochemicals and Chemicals, Gas-based industries, Power Plant machinery, aerospace, manufacture of defence equipments, information technology and ITES, human resources, Special Economic Zones etc.He said Andhra Pradesh was the leader in pharmaceuticals, particularly in bulk drug manufacturing and formulations and off-shore gas. The Chief Minister said a Petroleum and Petro-Chemical Investment Corridor was being developed from Visakhapatnam to Kakinada all along the coast and there is ample opportunities for investment in this region.
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BJP wants Centre to bring law and order in concurrent list

Hyderabad, Apr 10: Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive member and  former union minister Ch Vidyasagar Rao today urged the Centre to bring Law and Order subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution to remove confusion over its handling.Terming as 'unfortunate' the killing of 75 CRPF personnel by extremists in Dantewada, Mr Rao told a press conference here that there was a need for a stringent federal law to curb the menace. It was high time that the Law and Order subject was removed from the State List to the Concurrent List as insurgency had inter-state ramifications, he opined. Maintaining that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram should not step down when the 'war against extremists is on,' he said, the Centre should concentrate on inter-state coordination for curbing extremism. He reminded mediapersons that the Central allocation for modernisation of state police forces had been hiked from Rs 200 crore earlier to Rs 1,000 crore when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was in power.
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Dalit Women And Girl children conference,

Smt.K.Sunita,IAS, addressing a Conference on Dalit women and girl children onganised by the Social Welfare  Department. Commissioner.Sri. K.Praveen Kumar,IAS. as part of dalit empowerment week at the Jubilee Hall on April 10,2010. D.B.Vijaya Bharati and Smt.G.Jhansi are also seen on the dias.   (Photo by R.S.J.THOMAS)======================================================