Madhu Koda aide Anil Bastawade in 10-day ED remand

RANCHI: Anil Bastawade, an aide of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is now in jail and is accused of money laundering, was on Thursday remanded to 10 days custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED) by a court.

Earlier, a Ranchi court on Wednesday sent Bastawade, arrested in Jakarta Jan 21, to 14 days of judicial custody in the money-laundering case. The ED officials had said they will seek Bastawade's remand for interrogation. He is a close associate of Koda in the alleged money laundering case.

"Bastawade was given 10 days custody of the ED by the court. The ED had sought 14-days of custody of Bastawade," PR Das, lawyer of the ED told reporters here. Bastawade was arrested in Indonesia Jan 21 on an Interpol notice.

He was brought to New Delhi from Jakarta on Tuesday and brought to Ranchi on Wednesday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had on Thursday sought 14 days of remand for interrogation.

The multi-million money laundering scam involving Koda surfaced in 2009. Koda is in jail for more than three years for different graft cases, including money laundering.

ED officials say that Bastawade might reveal many aspects of the money laundering scam.

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No 'bad Muslims' in 'Vishwaroopam', can't paint terrorists white: Kamal Haasan

MUMBAI: Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who is in the city on Thursday for the promotion of his controversy-hit film 'Vishwaaroopam', said he was "seriously" thinking of leaving the country if this kind of row erupted again.

"In anger...in emotional outburst I would have said that I will leave the country. It does not mean I will do it..I enjoy the glory and fame. But if this happens again, I will seriously think of leaving. I am serious," Haasan told reporters.

The actor had earlier made an impassioned plea seeking the release of the film in his home state Tamil Nadu, saying that he would go abroad in search of a "secular state" where he would be allowed to continue pursuing his art.

He said he was thankful to Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha for offering help. "She is an artist, she has understood, she has come forward. I am grateful," he said.

There were reports that Haasan will take the fight over the release of his film 'Vishwaroopam' to the Supreme Court. "Now that she (Jayalalitha) is helping me, why do I need to go to the Supreme Court," Haasan said.

"It is very silly to say I got good publicity; India did not get good publicity. What is the use of me getting good publicity when India's name is being dragged in the muck," Kamal Haasan said on the film row.

"I don't want any more squabbling. This is gruelling, troublesome and insulting. Not only for me, but to several others associated with this movie. This kind of squabbling is not going to take us anywhere," Haasan said.

On the issue of Muslims opposing his film, the actor further said that for him, there is no religion. "For me there is people. I really do love them (Muslims). I request India, my Muslim brothers, Christian brothers, Sikh brothers to avoid such things. We have so much more to do to take India forward.

"I don't know what I did to deserve this. Artistes are the front bumpers of our vehicles. Do not disrespect us. The amount of support I got from the Muslim community is unbelievable. They apologised."

Muslim organisations had earlier demanded that the film be screened to them prior to its release, expressing concern over the depiction of the community in the movie.

"I was angry and I still am. I don't want to pinpoint to anyone. This country was very big, but was fragmented on baseless issues," Haasan said.

He sought to know why he was being accused of hatred. "I mean no harm. The film is not about hurting Muslims. The good Muslims in the films are Indians and bad Muslims are terrorists who are not from India. How can I paint terrorist...terrorism white," he said.

"Muslims who were arrested for holding protests against the film were misled by rabble rousers," he said adding, "They are my brothers, forgive them."

"Kamal Haasan has never been accused of painting the Muslims in bad light. Islam is not targeting me...it is the politics...it is not religion. Rather, there are few Muslims, I remember one Muslim was standing outside to protect the theatre," he said.

"There are bad Muslims in the film. They are terrorists. Why do you want me to paint a terrorists white?" he asked.

When asked about the reactions from Bollywood on the film row, Haasan said, "They came forward to support the film. I must thank all of them." "Javed saab (Javed Akhtar) came forward, although he was not a part of the film."

The actor-filmmaker had suffered a setback on Wednesday when the Madras high court stayed the release of the film in Tamil Nadu, even as he agreed to make changes in deference to Muslim sentiments.

The actor had already courted controversy when screen-owners red-flagged his decision to release it on DTH platform.

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2002 hit-and-run case: Salman Khan to be tried for culpable homicide

MUMBAI: In a major setback to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, a magistrate's court here on Thursday accepted the plea of the Maharashtra government that he should be tried under section 304 (II) of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), a graver offence, in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

At present, Salman, 47, is being tried under section 304 (I), (rash and negligent driving) which attracts maximum punishment of two years.

Section 304 (II) attracts the maximum sentence of ten years.

Following Thursday's order, the magistrate committed the case to sessions court for trial, as the offence is serious.

"Salman would have to appear before the sessions court on February 11," said his lawyer, advocate Dipesh Mehta.

On September 28, 2002, Salman's Toyota Land Cruiser, allegedly being driven by him, rammed into a bakery in suburban Bandra, killing one and injuring four others who were sleeping on the pavement.

The trial before the bandra magistrate's court started in 2006. Advocate Mehta also said that the actor would challenge Thursday's order in high court.

The Bombay high court had held that Section 304 part II of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was not applicable in the case and that the actor be tried under Section 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (rash and negligent driving) and other relevant sections.

The court had framed charges against the actor under section 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (rash and negligent driving), 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing minor injuries), 338 (causing major injuries) and 427 (negligence).

Earlier this year, the police had again sought that the actor be tried under more serious charge of 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder'.

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PM' council on climate change constituted

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today constituted a high-level panel consisting of cabinet secretary and secretaries from various ministries and departments to assist the Prime Minister's council on climate change.

Chaired by the principal secretary to the Prime Minister, the Executive Committee on climate change will assist the PM's council on climate change in evolving a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the national level.

The panel will regularly monitor the implementation of eight national missions and other initiatives on climate change and advise the PM's council on modifications in the objectives, strategies and structure of the missions, as may be necessary.

It would also co-ordinate with various agencies on issues relating to climate change.

Secretary, ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), will be the member-convenor.

Other members of the committee include secretaries from the ministries of finance, power, new and renewable energy, urban development, water resources, coal, petroleum and natural gas and planning commission.

Secretaries from various departments like science and technology, agriculture and co-operation, agricultural research and education, earth sciences and economic affairs are also among the members.

According to a PMO release, the chairman of Executive Committee on climate change may invite any other officer/ expert to the meetings as may be necessary.

The PM's council on climate change and the Executive Committee on climate change would be helped by the MoEF.

The Prime Minister's Council on climate change was constituted in 2007, in order to co-ordinate National Action for Assessment, Adaptation and Mitigation of climate change.

The National Action Plan of Climate Change (NAPCC) was released by the Prime Minister in June, 2008. Under the NAPCC, eight national missions are being implemented with the approval of PM's council on climate change.

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Omar Abdullah meets PM, seeks security, fund for sarpanches

NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought assistance in providing security and honorarium to newly-elected Panches and sarpanches so that panchayati raj institutions are further strengthened.

The 42-year-old chief minister also met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Union home minister discussing issues related to NC-Congress coalition government in the state.

During an hour-long meeting with the PM, the chief minister discussed issues relating to strengthening of panchayat institutions, special assistance for a mono-rail or metro project for Srinagar and Jammu and assistance in power sector so that relief could be given to consumers.

The chief minister sought liberal central funding for devolution of resources to panchayats including payment of honorarium to nearly 33,000 panches and sarpanches.

"The historic panchayat elections have raised expectations of the common man in the development share of the state," Omar was quoted in an official release as saying.

On the part of the state government, transfer of functions, functionaries and funds to panchayat raj institutions is a commitment and a beginning has been made by transferring the functions of 14 departments and ensuring flow of funds, Omar told the Prime Minister.

According to the state government release, the Prime Minister assured the chief minister of active consideration of the proposals made to various Union ministries and said the Centre would continue to support the Jammu and Kashmir government in its efforts to march on the road to peace and prosperity.

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Kamal Haasan mulls exile, ban on 'Vishwaroopam' stays

CHENNAI: On a day of dramatic developments, actor Kamal Haasan suffered a setback on Wednesday when the Madras high court stayed the release of 'Vishwaroopam' in Tamil Nadu even as he agreed to make changes in deference to Muslim sentiments while threatening to exile himself from the state.

The relief given to the actor by Justice K Venkataraman late on Tuesday night was short lived as a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna Jagadeesan quashed it, effectively stalling its release on Wednesday.

The two-member bench posted the case for hearing on next Wednesday. While the 58-year-old actor's lawyer earlier indicated that they may challenge the decision, his brother Chandra Haasan said they would wait till next Wednesday to decide the next course of action.

Some theatres including one in suburban Villivakkam and another in Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram, which had started showing the film before the HC order came, were attacked by unidentified elements. A petrol bomb was thrown at a theatre in Paramakudi.

The issue also took a political turn when DMK president M Karunanidhi wondered whether Haasan's statement at a recent function clamouring for a "dhoti clad Tamilian" to become the prime minister, an apparent reference to P Chidambaram, was the root cause of his present problems.

Karunanidhi also cited reports suggesting that a TV channel close to AIADMK wanted to buy the film but that the producers had refused saying they had spent over Rs 100 crore.

Even as the judicial proceedings were on, an emotional Haasan addressed a press conference in which he threatened to leave Tamil Nadu in search of a "secular" place, citing M F Hussain's exile.

"...But I believe that along with my Muslim friends, I have been instrument in a political game. I don't know who is playing and not even hazarding the guess. The fact remains that my history has proven that I have been neither leaning to the left or right but trying to maintain my position," Haasan said.

He said he has pledged all his property including the house where he grew and where he was holding the press conference and that he would go bankrupt if his lenders takeover these properties in case of a delay in the release of the film.

Moments before the high court order came, Haasan met some Muslim representatives led by Congress MP JM Haroon and announced that he has agreed to remove scenes regarding the Holy Quran in deference to their sentiments.

"With this any differences between me and the Muslim community and my Muslim friends have ceased," Hassan said. However, he hastened to add that he was getting disturbing reports about which he was worried.

He said the responsibility for the law and order fully rests with the government and the police and hoped that they would do their duty.

In a show of solidarity, leading film personalities, including Sivakumar, Prabhu, actress Kushboo and lyricist Vairamuthu called on the actor at his residence, where a large number of Haasan's fans gathered.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Censor Board chief Leela Samson and many others came out in Haasan's support.

"What he(Haasan) is going through amounts to hounding," Samson said. Filmmaker Shyam Bengal endorsed her views.

Samson also said she will take up the matter of how state governments can ban a film after the movie gets a certificate from the Censor Board.

SRK, who faced problems during the release of his films like 'Billu Barber' and 'My Name Is Khan said, "We have all gone through this, we have all faced this. To say the least, it is the most unfortunate thing to happen to a film."

"Kamal Haasan is a national treasure, an immaculate artiste. He has been subjected to humiliation. It is one of the darkest moment for the entire film fraternity," filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said.

Actor Siddharth took to Twitter in support of Haasan. "Heartbreaking to see the greatest Tamil actor of all time talking about leaving Tamil Nadu, about bankruptcy and about unfair persecution. Vishwaroopam screenings cancelled before starting & even stopped mid show all over TN. What a sad day. What a horrible week. #TalibanTN," he tweeted.

The Centre also backed Haasan, saying everyone in the country enjoys the freedom of expression and that artistes have full liberty to continue their choice of work.

Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said there is freedom of expression in India.

"We are a free society. There is freedom of expression. There is liberty for artists. We have a Constitution," he told reporters in New Delhi.

The film, which was initially in trouble due to Haasan's tussle with theatre owners over its DTH release, was slated to release on January 25 but was banned for two-weeks by state government, forcing Haasan to move to high court.

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India drops to 140th rank in press freedom, lowest since 2002

WASHINGTON: India has dropped nine places to 140th rank in the list of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index, which its authors said is the lowest for the "world's biggest democracy" since 2002.

"In Asia, India (140th, -9) is at its lowest since 2002 because of increasing impunity for violence against journalists and because internet censorship continues to grow," Reporters Without Borders said in its World Press Freedom Index for the year 2013.

"China (173rd, +1) shows no sign of improving. Its prisons still hold many journalists and netizens, while increasingly unpopular internet censorship continues to be a major obstacle to access to information."

As last year, the list is topped by three European countries - Finland, Netherlands and Norway.

Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea continue to be at the bottom of the list as has been in the last three years.

"The Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

"In dictatorships, news providers and their families are exposed to ruthless reprisals, while in democracies news providers have to cope with the media's economic crises and conflicts of interest. While their situation is not always comparable, we should pay tribute to all those who resist pressure whether it is aggressively focused or diffuse," he said.

According to the report, in almost all parts of the world, influential countries including India that are regarded as "regional models" have fallen in the index.

Observing that there has been general decline in freedom of information in South Asia, the report said the Indian subcontinent was the Asian region that saw the sharpest deterioration in the climate for those involved in news and information in 2012.

"In the Maldives, which crashed to 103rd place (-30), the events that led to the resignation of President Mohammed Nasheed in February led to violence and threats against journalists in state television and private media outlets regarded as pro-Nasheed by the coup leaders," it said.

In India, the "world's biggest democracy", the authorities insist on censoring the Web and imposing more and more taboos, while violence against journalists goes unpunished and the regions of Kashmir and Chhattisgarh become increasingly isolated," it said.

"Bangladesh is not far behind. Its journalists are frequently targets of police violence. When they are not acting as aggressors, the security forces stand by passively while enemies of the media enjoy impunity and are rarely brought to justice.

"The ability of journalists to work freely in Pakistan (159th, -8) and Nepal (118th, -12) continued to worsen in the absence of any government policy to protect media workers. Despite having a diverse and lively media, Pakistan remains one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters," the report said.

Coinciding with the release of its 2013 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders published an annual global "indicator" of worldwide media freedom.

This new analytic tool measures the overall level of freedom of information in the world and the performance of the world's governments in their entirety as regards this key freedom, it said.

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Goods over Rs 49 lakh traded across LoC

POONCH: Goods worth over Rs 49 lakh were traded across the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Jammu and Kashmir at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point here, officials said.

As many as five trucks rolled out from the trade facilitation centre (TFC) here to PoK, they said, adding, these trucks carried bags of banana, tomatoes and knited fabric worth Rs 15,83,016.

From PoK, six trucks carrying bags of dry dates, apricot and onion worth Rs 33,95,950 entered India, they said.

Officials from both sides monitored transportation of these goods twice during the day.

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EC reprimands Navjot Sidhu for violating model code of conduct during Gujarat polls

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has reprimanded BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for violating the model code of conduct by making personal remarks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the Gujarat poll campaign.

The commission, in its order, issued on Wednesday directed Sidhu to be more careful in future so that the provisions of model code are strictly adhered to and not violated.

Sidhu, while campaigning for BJP in Gujarat's Junagadh district, had on November 29 last year made a speech where he made certain personal remarks against the Prime Minister and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) president Keshubhai Patel.

"The commission is satisfied that Navjot Singh Sidhu has violated the provisions of the model code of Conduct by making speech inciting communal/religious feeling and objectionable remarks on the private life of leaders of rival political parties."

"Now, therefore, the Election Commission hereby reprimands Navjot Singh Sidhu and directs that he should be careful in future so that provisions of model code of conduct are strictly adhered to and not violated," the EC order reads.

The EC order also cites Sidhu's remarks made against former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

The commission's reprimand came after Sidhu sought a copy of the CD of his speech and asked for more time, but did not reply to the commission despite making requests. On his request, the poll body had directed the BJP MP time to reply by January 5.

"After considering all aspects of the case, the commission has observed that Navjot Singh Sidhu is simply evading to give the reply and prolonging the matter by seeking extentions again and again and has nothing substantial to reply," the EC said.

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Wanting dhoti-clad PM may have caused 'Vishwaroopam' ban: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) president M Karunanidhi on Wednesday wondered whether the Tamil Nadu government's ban on Kamal Haasan's movie "Vishwaroopam" was because the actor wanted a dhoti-clad Tamilian as prime minister.

In a letter to party cadres, Karunanidhi said some sections of people are of the view that the actor earned the ire of the state government after he said that a dhoti-clad Tamilian, referring to Union finance minister P Chidambaram, should become the country's prime minister.

Karunanidhi also said that there is a view among a section of people that a television channel close to the ruling party in the state had offered to buy the rights of "Vishwaroopam", which the actor declined as the price quoted was much lower than what the film was sold for to another channel.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier banned the release of "Vishwaroopam" for 15 days as it feared the movie could spark a law and order problem because it contained references to the Muslim community that were allegedly derogatory.

Many Muslim organisations had opposed the movie, claiming that it presented the community in poor light.

Earlier in the day, Kamal Haasan told reporters that he was unable to understand why "Vishwaroopam" was banned. The film had cost Rs.95 crore to produce.

Kamal said he would scout for a truly secular Indian state; otherwise, he would settle in some other country that was secular.

"I don't understand what is happening. If I try to understand, I will turn into a politician. I don't want to," the 58-year-old actor said.

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Sena's flip-flop on NDA's PM candidate

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena's declaration of support for Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj as NDA's prime ministerial candidate today is the latest in a series of pronouncements the party has made on who should be the NDA nominee for the country's top job.

In September last year, in an interview published in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the late Sena chief Bal Thackeray had said Swaraj was his preference for PM's post.

Thackeray had said he would back Swaraj as she was the only "deserving and brilliant" person who fitted the bill.

"She's a savvy woman and will perform her job as Prime Minister in a forceful and decisive manner," the late Sena chief had said.

However, last month, the Shiv Sena threw its weight behind Narendra Modi's prime ministerial ambitions. Sena leader Sanjay Raut had then told media, "We have no problem if Modi is declared as the NDA's PM candidate."

"Modi is definitely a strong leader. There is no doubt about that... He has shown the country, shown Gujarat (what he is). Who to make the PM nominee will be NDA's decision, specially that of BJP, which is its largest party," Raut had said.

But today, a day after senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha endorsed the Gujarat chief minister, Raut said, "We feel Sushma Swaraj is the suitable candidate for the PM's post."

Raut further reminded that Bal Thackeray had also pitched for Swaraj.

Sena recently slammed Modi, BJP's Hindutva poster-boy, for allowing the Pakistan cricket team to play at Rajkot.

Sena observers attribute the party's preference for Swaraj over Modi to the Gujarat chief minister's perceived closeness to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

Raj had attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony as his special invitee in Gandhinagar last month, though Uddhav was also present there.

Raj's week-long Gujarat tour in 2011 had strengthened his ties with Modi. He was Modi's guest, and after returning to Mumbai, Raj had praised him for good governance and emphasis on development.

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Sena's flip-flop on PM candidate

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena's declaration of support for Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj as NDA's prime ministerial candidate today is the latest in a series of pronouncements the party has made on who should be the NDA nominee for the country's top job.

In September last year, in an interview published in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the late Sena chief Bal Thackeray had said Swaraj was his preference for PM's post.

Thackeray had said he would back Swaraj as she was the only "deserving and brilliant" person who fitted the bill.

"She's a savvy woman and will perform her job as Prime Minister in a forceful and decisive manner," the late Sena chief had said.

However, last month, the Shiv Sena threw its weight behind Narendra Modi's prime ministerial ambitions. Sena leader Sanjay Raut had then told media, "We have no problem if Modi is declared as the NDA's PM candidate."

"Modi is definitely a strong leader. There is no doubt about that... He has shown the country, shown Gujarat (what he is). Who to make the PM nominee will be NDA's decision, specially that of BJP, which is its largest party," Raut had said.

But today, a day after senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha endorsed the Gujarat chief minister, Raut said, "We feel Sushma Swaraj is the suitable candidate for the PM's post."

Raut further reminded that Bal Thackeray had also pitched for Swaraj.

Sena recently slammed Modi, BJP's Hindutva poster-boy, for allowing the Pakistan cricket team to play at Rajkot.

Sena observers attribute the party's preference for Swaraj over Modi to the Gujarat chief minister's perceived closeness to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

Raj had attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony as his special invitee in Gandhinagar last month, though Uddhav was also present there.

Raj's week-long Gujarat tour in 2011 had strengthened his ties with Modi. He was Modi's guest, and after returning to Mumbai, Raj had praised him for good governance and emphasis on development.

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Beating Retreat weaves magical musical spell

NEW DELHI: For once it was not bitterly cold and the warmth added to the ambience as a thousand bandsmen of the armed forces Tuesday wove elaborate patterns to rousing music at the Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the end of the Republic Day celebrations.

The setting couldn't be more perfect.

Under a clear blue sky, with the tricolour waving languidly in the gentle breeze on the vast stage at the foot of the Raisina Hill that houses the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the imposing Secretariat blocks, the hour-long ceremony unfolded with a judicious blend of Indian and western marches that had the audience in raptures.

So cold has it been in the past that a three-sided screen has had to be erected to protect the president from the breeze. That wasn't necessary Tuesday as President Pranab Mukherjee arrived for his first Beating Retreat ceremony.

As it happens at the Jan 26 Republic Day parade, there was plenty of contrast on view from the cream breeches, red tunics and blue turbans with gold-white-blue trims, the green trousers and red tunics of the tankmen, the olive green and orange uniforms of the infantry and the maroon uniform of the veterinarians.

Against this were the black uniforms matched with white belts and lanyards and white caps of the navy and the blue of the air force.

The masssed bands set the tone for the ceremony as they marched down Rajpath to a rather unusual arrangement of "Kadam Kadam Badahe Ja" that was a blend of military and symphonic styles. It went down extremely well.

As the massed bands halted the pipes and drums peeled off with a medley of quick and slow marches that included "Bala Sepaiah", "Suman Sarila" and "Pulkat Himalaya", etching out squares, triangles and circles on Vijay Chowk and rounded off by a deft display of stick work by the kettle drummers.

It was then the turn of the navy and air force to take centre-stage.

They quickly had the audience eating out of their hands with an extremely peppy rendition of "Through the Great Ocean", followed by "Astronaut", a quick march, "Evening Breeze" a slow march and "The Admiral's Insignia" that involved some intricate forward and backward movements.

The sun was slowly setting as the army brass band moved forward with a haunting version of George Frederick Handel's "Scipio", a slow march featuring the woodwinds echoing a theme etched out by the brass.

It was then the turn of the massed bands to come forward for one last time. They did so with the grandios "Sher-e-Jawan" and the "Drummers Call" that involved staccato beats on the kettle drums that rose to a cresendo and tapered off to a single drumbeat.

Then came the moment that everyone was waiting for: "Abide With Me", Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn that had the bells in the belfry of the North Block taking up the theme essayed by the brass.

The "Retreat" was sounded, the national flag was lowered and the principal conductor for the evening, Lt Commander S K Champion, sought permission to take the bands back.

This granted, the bands wheeled around and marched up Raisina Hill to the soul-stirring "Saare Jahan Se Aach".

As the bands crested the hill and the music became a mere echo, tens of thousands of bulbs on the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the two Secretariat blocks and Parliament House came alive, evoking "Ooooh" and "Aaaah " from the audience.

Another Beating Retreat had ended, with the promise of more to come next year.

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UPA government cheating people on Lokpall Bill: Anna Hazare

PATNA: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday said assurances like the one by Sonia Gandhi that Lokpal Bill would be passed in the budget session of Parliament were being made for the past two years and said intentions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress president on it were 'not clear'.

"Such letters and assurances (like the one by Sonia Gandhi) are coming for the past two years. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier too written such letters to me promising to pass the Lokpal Bill," Hazare told reporters here.

"(Their) intention is not clear ... They have been cheating people time and again ... If they had been honest one or at best two parliamentary sessions would have been sufficient to do it (pass the Lokpal Bill)," he said.

Asked if he had any expectation from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the bill, he said "Everybody is the same. All of them are cheating the people."

Sonia Gandhi had written a letter to Hazare recently and send it to his Rale Sidhi village home assuring him that the Lokpal Bill, which he is struggling for, would be passed in the coming budget session of Parliament.

The letter was sent days before Hazare launches his fresh campaign from Patna on Wednesday.

Hazare, who was accompanied by retired Army chief V K Singh, said he would launch a nation-wide 'movement for 'changing the system to fulfil the 'dreams of Mahatama Gandhi and Jaiprakash Narayan'.

He is scheduled to launch a country-wide 'vyawastha parivartan' (change in system) programme and address a "jantranta rally" here on Wednesday.

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I am ready to go to jail, sociologist Ashis Nandy says

NEW DELHI: Asserting that he has worked for dalits, OBCs and adivasis for 45 years of his life, sociologist Ashis Nandy, who stoked a controversy with his comments at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), on Tuesday said that he was ready to go to jail if tried under the Atrocities Act and convicted.

"It is a non-bailable warrant I am told under this act. And, if at the age of 75, I am tried under the Atrocities Act and convicted, I will go to jail, I will not contest it. I will go to jail because I have worked for dalits, OBCs and adivasis for 45 years of my life, and I am not going to take this insult quietly, in the sense that I will oppose it and try to subvert it. I will go to jail," he said, when asked about his future course of action if issued summons by Rajasthan Police.

Nandy, however, said that he has not received the summons as yet.

"I have only heard that an FIR has been lodged against me. When I get that FIR, when I get that summons I shall respond to that, I shall go there," he added.

Jaipur Police earlier in the day issued a notice to Nandy asking him to appear before it in connection with his controversial remarks against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Saturday.

An FIR was lodged against him under Section 506 IPC (criminal intimidation) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Jaipur Literature Festival producer Sanjoy Roy is also likely to be questioned by the police.

Nandy had said that the people belonging to OBC (other backward class), Scheduled Caste (SC) and ST (Scheduled Tribe) are more corrupt during a discussion at the JLF on January 26.

The remarks kicked off a furore, with many voices condemning Nandy for his remarks and case was registered against him under Prevention of Atrocities Against SC/ST Act.

Nandy had later clarified that what he meant was that the most of the people getting caught in corruption charges belongs to marginalized sections, as they don't have the means to save themselves unlike people from upper castes.

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Congress 'raked up' Telangana statehood demand in 1999; seven party MPs to quit

HYDERABAD: The Congress in Andhra Pradesh is now facing the heat over Telangana statehood, a demand it had originally raked up when it was in the opposition way back in 1999.

In 2001, though, Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to the then Union home minister LK Advani seeking creation of Telangana state in the aftermath of formation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal.

However, Advani turned down the plea stating that the demand could not be considered without a resolution by the state Assembly, according to Congress MP Vundavalli Arunkumar, who hails from coastal Andhra.

K Chandrasekhar Rao picked up the statehood demand from where the Congress left after he walked out of the Telugu Desam and launched his own Telangana Rashtra Samiti in 2001.

Since then he has become the flag-bearer of the statehood "movement", invariably forcing other parties also to carry the mantle for their political existence. In 2004, the Congress forged an electoral alliance with the TRS and went on to form a coalition government.

The tie-up continued at the national level and TRS became part of the Union government as well.

Within two years, however, the parties parted ways as the Congress could not address the statehood issue despite repeated promises.

A separate state was first sought on the development plank, citing "injustice" to Telangana from the time when the erstwhile Nizam's Hyderabad was merged with Andhra in 1956.

When that did not cut any ice, the separatists changed tune and started singing the "self-respect" verse.

What happened in Andhra Pradesh since November 2009 — in the aftermath of the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's death — could be termed as defining phase in the statehood movement.

The statement on December 9, 2009 by the then home minister P Chidambaram declaring that the "process for creation of Telangana state is being initiated had given a fresh boost to the statehood movement".

The midnight announcement left Andhra Pradesh virtually divided along regional lines (Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana) over the last three years.

Observers believe that has gradually caused "mental separation" of people of the different regions as well.

In close to nine years now, the Congress formed numerous committees, both at the central and the state levels to find a solution to the vexatious issue but failed to achieve anything.

The changed political scenario in the state, particularly with the emergence of YSR Congress, has pushed the ruling party to the brink.

Now, with its back to the wall, the Congress is caught between the devil (read YS Jagan) and the deep sea (Telangana), the observers say.

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Congress 'raked up' Telangana statehood demand in 1999

HYDERABAD: The Congress in Andhra Pradesh is now facing the heat over Telangana statehood, a demand it had originally raked up when it was in the opposition way back in 1999.

In 2001, though, Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to the then Union home minister LK Advani seeking creation of Telangana state in the aftermath of formation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal.

However, Advani turned down the plea stating that the demand could not be considered without a resolution by the state Assembly, according to Congress MP Vundavalli Arunkumar, who hails from coastal Andhra.

K Chandrasekhar Rao picked up the statehood demand from where the Congress left after he walked out of the Telugu Desam and launched his own Telangana Rashtra Samiti in 2001.

Since then he has become the flag-bearer of the statehood "movement", invariably forcing other parties also to carry the mantle for their political existence. In 2004, the Congress forged an electoral alliance with the TRS and went on to form a coalition government.

The tie-up continued at the national level and TRS became part of the Union government as well.

Within two years, however, the parties parted ways as the Congress could not address the statehood issue despite repeated promises.

A separate state was first sought on the development plank, citing "injustice" to Telangana from the time when the erstwhile Nizam's Hyderabad was merged with Andhra in 1956.

When that did not cut any ice, the separatists changed tune and started singing the "self-respect" verse.

What happened in Andhra Pradesh since November 2009 — in the aftermath of the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's death — could be termed as defining phase in the statehood movement.

The statement on December 9, 2009 by the then home minister P Chidambaram declaring that the "process for creation of Telangana state is being initiated had given a fresh boost to the statehood movement".

The midnight announcement left Andhra Pradesh virtually divided along regional lines (Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana) over the last three years.

Observers believe that has gradually caused "mental separation" of people of the different regions as well.

In close to nine years now, the Congress formed numerous committees, both at the central and the state levels to find a solution to the vexatious issue but failed to achieve anything.

The changed political scenario in the state, particularly with the emergence of YSR Congress, has pushed the ruling party to the brink.

Now, with its back to the wall, the Congress is caught between the devil (read YS Jagan) and the deep sea (Telangana), the observers say.

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Telangana ministers 'ready for any sacrifice', 7 Congress MPs to resign

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh ministers from Telangana region said they were ready to make any sacrifice for a separate state but stopped short of announcing their resignations.

After a meeting here on Monday, the ministers said they would exercise patience at a time when the Congress leadership was in the final stage of taking a decision to carve out a Telangana state.

K Jana Reddy, a senior minister, told reporters that they were still hopeful of a positive decision by the central government.

He said while they were disappointed that the government did not announce the decision before the January 28 deadline, they had not lost hopes.

He claimed that all ministers and legislators were making efforts to ensure the formation of Telangana state, adding that their patience should not be misunderstood.

7 Congress MPs to resign

Angry over the delay in formation of a separate Telangana state, seven Congress MPs from the region on Monday decided to resign both from parliament and the party.

The MPs declared after a meeting here that they would Tuesday send their resignation letters, addressed to the Lok Sabha speaker, to party president Sonia Gandhi.

The MPs said they would ask the party leadership to take a decision to carve out a separate state in a week or forward their resignations to the speaker.

"We will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) to send the resignation letters and will chalk out our future course of action. This will be our last meeting," said K Rajagopal Reddy, one of the MPs.

"There is no question of compromise on Telangana. We will join the people to fight for separate state," he added.

There are 17 Lok Sabha members from Telangana region, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad. Twelve of the MPs are from Congress and they include three central ministers.

The MPs who attended the meeting are K Rajagopal Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Madhu Yaskhi, S Rajaiah, G Vivekanand, Gutha Sukender Reddy and Manda Jaganath.

Senior Congress leader K Keshava Rao and some other party leaders from the region also attended the meet.

According to sources, there were differences among the MPs over the resignations. Some of them felt resignations would not help achieve Telangana and this would only benefit Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Madhu Yaskhi told reporters that TRS was eyeing 2014 elections and clarified that their only goal was Telangana and not the elections.

He claimed that MPs were using their posts only to fight for Telangana in Delhi and reminded their critics that people of Telangana sent them to parliament.

Reacting to threats by some Telangana groups threatening to target Congress MPs, Yaskhi dared them to target leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) creating hurdles in formation of Telangana.

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Supreme Court directs Karnataka to file report on water sharing with TN

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today directed Karnataka to furnish all the information on amount of Cauvery river water shared by it to Tamil Nadu since 1992 and said that out of box thinking is required on the part of warring states to sort out the dispute.

A bench of justices R M Lodha and J Chelameswar asked Karnataka to submit its report tomorrow when it will hear the plea on passing intermin direction on sharing of water by the two states.

The bench also observed that requirement of drinking water for Karnataka should be given priority over water needed by Tamil Nadu for irrigation purpose and some out of box thinking is required to balance the demand of two states.

"Some equitable sharing has to be done. Some out of box thinking is required. There has to be some interim solution," the bench said while pulling Karnataka for not adhering to the formula of water sharing.

Earlier on December 5, the Supreme Court had directed Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to its neighbouring state and asked Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) to hold a meeting to decide the amount of water required by each state.

Cusec is a measure of flow rate of water and is abbreviation for cubic feet per second (which is equivalent to a flow of 28.317 litres per second) and 11,000 cusecs flow for a day amounts to 1 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) water.

The committee had then directed Karnataka to provide Tamil Nadu with 12 TMC of Cauvery water during December and did not pass any order for the month of January as the Centre had assured the apex court that it would notify the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award by December 31.

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Mulayam warns SP workers not to use his photographs in posters

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party supremoMulayam Singh Yadav today warned party workers not to use his photograph in banners and posters without party's permission otherwise strict disciplinary action will be taken against them.

"You all should remain disciplined. Those using my photographs in banners and posters should immediately stop the practise or strict disciplinary action will be taken against them. Party flags and stickers should also not be misused," Yadav said while addressing party workers here.

Stating that neither Congress nor BJP would get majority in 2014 Loksabha polls, Yadav claimed it would be third-front, which would be getting the majority and form next government.

"The party should have target of winning all 80 seats from the state and workers should remain alert with propaganda of opposition parties", he said.

About corruption, Yadav asked party workers to keep an eye on it and inform party about it.

Later, talking to reporters party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said that not only disciplinary action but legal action will also be taken again those misusing party flags and stickers.

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Railways to set up around 250 base kitchens across India

LUCKNOW: Railways are planning to set up at least 250 base kitchens across the country and do away with the cooking arrangements in the pantry cars.

The base kitchens to be set up at almost all the major stations will prepare about six lakh meals and snacks every day in hygienic conditions.

Pantry cars, on the other hand, might be used to store food and snacks prepared in the base kitchens, said a senior railway official.

Only hot beverages likes tea, coffee and soup will be prepared in pantry cars.

There are 302 mail and express trains having pantry cars for preparing and serving food to onboard passengers.

Railways will give land near the stations to set up base kitchens.

Railways will give land at a nominal fee of Rs 1 per sq feet to caterers for setting up the base kitchens. The total volume of food business in the railways is estimated to be around Rs 2000 crore a year.

Meanwhile, the railways are finalizing a common bidding format across the country for providing branded food items. It will empanel brands for certain items and make it mandatory for caterers to invest in base kitchens.

The bidding norms have provisions to prevent only a few catering firms from cornering a large share of business. The bidding in catering service is expected to begin by May this year.

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I never threatened I-T officials: Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari today denied he had threatened income tax authorities but insisted that the raids conducted on some companies allegedly associated with his Purti Group were a part of a conspiracy to malign him and his party.

"I never threatened the I-T Department or its officials. I have full faith in the professional integrity of the department. Unfortunately, my public statements have been distorted and misinterpreted," Gadkari said in a statement.

However, he felt there was a conspiracy behind the raids. "...I have reasons to believe that unnecessary dragging my name in the context of these inquiries is part of a conspiracy to defame me and my party".

The "deliberate move", he added, "to link me and members of my family in connection with these open inquiries against some companies and the misleading briefings to the media in this regard is calculated, mischievous and politically motivated to damage my reputation".

He said that while exposing the "sinister game plan of the UPA government" to influence the inquires and mislead the media, he had only urged the I-T Department and its officials to remain impartial and not get influenced by the dictates of their political bosses.

The I-T Department and its officials are free to conduct any independent inquiry in response to complaints received against any company or individuals, he said.

The offices of 11 companies who have reportedly invested in Purti Group were raided by the IT authorities on January 22, a day before the election of the BJP president.

Nitin Gadkari was all set to seek second term for the top post but was forced to give up after senior BJP leaders including L K Advani objected to his candidature in wake of the charges of financial irregularities against him.

Gadkari reiterated that neither he nor any member of his family have anything to do with the companies against whom the inquires have been going on and that "these are not Purti Group of companies".

A day after demitting office, Gadkari had told party workers in Nagpur, "As BJP president I had to maintain dignity and work within boundaries.... Now I am a free man. Congress' boat is about to sink and when our party comes to power, there would be no Chidambaram or Sonia to save them (I-T officials)."

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Decision on Telangana deferred yet again

NEW DELHI/ HYDERABAD: A decision on the Telangana statehood demand was deferred on Sunday with the Centre and Congress saying there was need for "further consultations" which will take a "little more time" even as pro-Telangana activists intensified their agitation.

On the eve of the one-month deadline set by him to arrive at a decision on the contentious issue, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the Congress spoke on similar lines seeking more time to resolve the matter.

While Shinde said it may take some more time to reach a final decision, Congress central secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad made it clear that "further consultations" with leaders from Andhra Pradesh are required.

"On Telangana issue, consultation process is on. It may take little more time to reach a final decision," Shinde said in a brief statement.

Azad said, "we need some more consultations with senior leaders of Andhra Pradesh of all three regions and for that we shall have to invite them here. We are also going to invite the chief minister and PCC chief for further consultations."

"There is no deadline but we will invite them as early as possible," he said when asked whether there is any deadline for the meeting.

Shinde had on December 28, 2012 said the Centre would announce a decision on the contentious issue in a month. However, Azad had last week indicated that the decision may be delayed.

Even before the announcement came, pro-Telangana activists launched a 36-hour protest programme in Hyderabad to mount pressure on government to concede to their statehood demand.

Scores of pro-Telangna leaders and activists, including TRS MLA KT Rama Rao, were taken into custody at different places when they attempted to march towards the protest venue but were allowed later after the government intervened.

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Decision on Telangana statehood issue deferred yet again

NEW DELHI/ HYDERABAD: A decision on the Telangana statehood demand was deferred on Sunday with the Centre and Congress saying there was need for "further consultations" which will take a "little more time" even as pro-Telangana activists intensified their agitation.

On the eve of the one-month deadline set by him to arrive at a decision on the contentious issue, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the Congress spoke on similar lines seeking more time to resolve the matter.

While Shinde said it may take some more time to reach a final decision, Congress central secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad made it clear that "further consultations" with leaders from Andhra Pradesh are required.

"On Telangana issue, consultation process is on. It may take little more time to reach a final decision," Shinde said in a brief statement.

Azad said, "we need some more consultations with senior leaders of Andhra Pradesh of all three regions and for that we shall have to invite them here. We are also going to invite the chief minister and PCC chief for further consultations."

"There is no deadline but we will invite them as early as possible," he said when asked whether there is any deadline for the meeting.

Shinde had on December 28, 2012 said the Centre would announce a decision on the contentious issue in a month. However, Azad had last week indicated that the decision may be delayed.

Even before the announcement came, pro-Telangana activists launched a 36-hour protest programme in Hyderabad to mount pressure on government to concede to their statehood demand.

Scores of pro-Telangna leaders and activists, including TRS MLA KT Rama Rao, were taken into custody at different places when they attempted to march towards the protest venue but were allowed later after the government intervened.

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UP remains under grip of cold wave

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh reeled under cold wave as temperature in some parts of the state was nine to 11 degree celsius below normal.

Meteorological department office here said that Jhansi, which recorded 1.5 deg C, was the coldest place in the state during the past 24 hours.

Night temperatures rose in Lucknow and Bareilly divisions and changed little elsewhere in the state.

The mercury was markedly below normal in Moradabad division, appreciably below normal in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Faizabad, Bahraich, Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Agra divisions and below normal in Meerut division and normal in Jhansi.

The met office has forecast that weather would be mainly dry over the state with possibility of fog/mist over one or two places state.

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BJP govt in majority: Karnataka governor

BANGALORE: In a relief to ruling BJP that faced threats of instability, Karnataka governor HR Bhardwaj on Saturday said the Jagadish Shettar government still enjoyed majority after 13 party MLAs anounced their resignation, but he would order a floor test if he felt it has been reduced to minority.

"On the day on which the government comes into minority even with one MLA less, I will issue notice. Now, 13 MLAs have resigned but the government is still in majority," he told reporters as Shettar stood next to him after the Republic Day function here.

Bhardwaj said he would act according to the advice of Shettar as long as he was the Chief Minister, but wouldn't do so after his government had lost majority. "I will not do any unconstitutional work. I am watching," he said.

Question marks over the Shettar government's survival were raised after 13 MLAs loyal to Karnataka Janata Party chief and former BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa announced their decision to quit assembly membership.

The MLA's bid to push the government into a corner, however, had been in vain as assembly speaker KG Bopaiah was not in station, an issue over which they cried foul and petitioned the Governor to whom they submitted copies of their resignation letters.

The governor's remarks come as a relief to the over six-month old Shettar Government as it has belied hopes, at least for the present, of Yeddyurappa to force the exit of the BJP Ministry ahead of assembly elections due in May.

Bhardwaj said today that Shettar was the Leader of the BJP legislature Party and it was left to him to take action on the issue of resignation by 13 MLAs.

Noting that the Assembly has been convened to meet from February 4 for the Budget session, Bhardwaj said he was studying the situation. "I hope Karnataka continues to function as per the Constitution and we (I and chief minister) will not rush through," he said.

Asked if he would direct Bopaiah to accept the resignation of 13 BJP legislators, he said said Speaker's was an independent and very high office and he cannot dictate terms.

To a query on Yeddyurappa's remarks that the state was facing a constitutional crisis following the resignation of the 13 MLAs, Bhardwaj said the government still enjoyed majority and it was left to Shettar to act in this regard.

"However, each day of the budget session is a test for the government. We should not say there is a constitutional crisis. We are living in a democracy which has been interpreted by the highest court of the land (Supreme Court in the SR Bommai case). I will not go against the Constitution."

Bhardwaj said he would be addressing the joint session of legislature as it is his obligation and a privilege to do so.

"But I am watching the situation minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour and day-by-day. I will protect the Constitution and he (Shettar) has assured me in this regard," he said.

Shettar said his government enjoyed majority and would present the budget. "There is no threat to my government. The governor has agreed to address the joint session."

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Nigerian navy arrests 10 Indians for alleged oil theft

ABUJA: Nigerian navy has arrested ten Indians and two Ghanaians for alleged oil theft after it intercepted a vessel near the oil rich southern Rivers state.

The arrested people have been handed over to the country's anti-corruption police — the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) — for investigation and prosecution for oil theft.

The flag officer commanding Nigeria's Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, said the suspects were arrested near Port Harcourt, the capital of oil rich southern Rivers state.

"The suspects were arrested on a vessel MT Ashkay which was intercepted by a naval ship NNS Predator off Sangana River with cargo suspected to be stolen crude oil," Olutoyin said.

"The product on board MT Ashkay is suspected to be stolen crude of about 157,822 litres. They didn't have papers to justify the cargo," he said adding the tanker does not have the Nigerian Port Authority's bunkering permit, nor the joint task force, Operation Pulo Shield certificate of registration.

Speaking to PTI, on the sidelines of an African Union summit holding in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru said he is appealing to foreign countries to enlighten their citizens on the dangers of illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria.

"Most of the ships arrested for crude oil bunkering in the past belonged to foreigners. If there is no willing foreign buyer, there won't be a seller," Ashiru said adding that any foreigner caught for bunkering would automatically face the Nigerian court process.

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Ashis Nandy clarifies stand on dalit corruption remark, cites 'misunderstanding'

JAIPUR: Leading political psychologist, scholar and social scientist Ashis Nandy clarified on Saturday that he did not mean to hurt the sentiments of the country's disempowered groups with his comment about the equalizing force of corruption and that the scourge was rampant among the backward and dalit communities as well.

"I do believe that a zero corruption society will be despotic society. I also said that if people like Richard Sorabjee and I want to be corrupt, I shall possibly send his son to Harvard and give him a fellowship and he can send my daughter to Oxford," Nandy told the media following protests by dalit groups.

"No one will think it as corruption. Indeed it will look like supporting talent. But when dalits, tribals and the OBCs are corrupt, it looks very corrupt indeed. However, this second corruption equalizes. It gives them access to top their entitlements As long as this equation persists, I have hope for the republic," he said.

Nandy said he was sorry that he had been misunderstood. "As should be clear, there was neither any intention nor any attempt to hurt any community," he said.

The scholar said he had been supporting the cause of the marginalized and dispossessed in the last 40 years of his academic and intellectual life.

Earlier in the day, Nandy had stirred a hornet's nest at a panel discourse, "Republic of Ideas" when he said: "It will be an undignified and vulgar statement but the fact is that most of the corrupt come from the OBC, the scheduled castes and now increasingly STs. As long as it was the case, the Indian republic would survive."

"I will give an example. The state of least corruption is West Bengal. In the last 100 years, nobody from the backward classes and the SC and ST groups have come anywhere near power in West Bengal. It is an absolutely clean state," Nandy said.

Later Nandy set the record straight saying that he had meant to endorse fellow panelist Tarun Tejpal's statement that "corruption in India was an equalizing force" after dalit activists descended on the venue to protest Nandy's remarks.

Late in the evening dalit leader Kirorilal Meena filed an FIR against Nandy at the Ashok Nagar police station. This was despite festival producer Sanjoy K Roy explaining the import of Nandy's comments to Meena and other dalit leaders.

"They have clarified their position and have understood that it was a misunderstanding. Controversies are easily created. Please be responsible," Roy said.

A trained clinical psychologist and sociologist, Nandy works cover a variety of topics like politics, public conscience and dialogues of civilizations. Nandy has been honoured with the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize and has been named as one of top 100 public intellectuals by the Carnegie Foreign Policy magazine.

Panelist Tarun Tejpal, the editor in chief and publisher of Tehelka said: "It is sad that in a literary festival, people should be attacking the finest intellectual. When you come to literature festival, you are coming to play with ideas."

Like in 2012, the Jaipur Literature Festival this year too has lived up its reputation as a platform for free speech and diverse voices with Saturday's controversy over Nandy remarks and a heated exchange between lyricist-MP Javed Akhtar and dalit writer Kancha Ilaiah from Andhra Pradesh over religion.

Protests by hardline Muslim groups following speculation that author of "Satanic Verses" Salman Rushdie would attend the festival last year had kept the heat on for five days.

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Now, Malaysia bans 'Vishwaroopam'

KUALA LUMPUR: Kamal Haasan's controversial film 'Vishwaroopam' has been removed from local cinemas in Malaysia a day after its release following a directive from the home ministry, much to the disappointment for ethnic Indians here.

Film distribution company Lotus Fivestar AV's director R Ramalingam said the ministry told him to stop screening the movie yesterday.

The film, which opened in Malaysia on Thursday, had played to full cinemas before being removed from the theatres.

'Vishwaroopam' has been banned Tamil Nadu for two weeks amid allegations by the Muslim community that they have been depicted negatively in the movie.

Haasan has taken the matter to the Madras high court and a decision is pending.

Sri Lanka too has ordered a delay in the release in favour of a review by censors.

Muslim majority multi ethnic Malaysia has a eight per cent ethnic Indian population who are mostly Tamils. Tamil movies are extremely popular in this country and popular stars from Kollywood have a wide following here.

Mega Tamil films are mostly released in the same day as in India. Among Hindi films, movies starring Shah Rukh Khan are very popular among the Malays.

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Rajasthan must act against Nandy for casteist comments: Mayawati

NEW DELHI: BSP leader Mayawati on Saturday demanded that the Rajasthan government take strong action against social scientist Ashis Nandy for his comments linking OBCs, the SCs and the STs to corruption and that he be told to leave the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Talking to reporters here, Mayawati said Nandy's comments were "wrong, baseless and unfortunate" and reflected casteist mindset.

They were made as part of a thought-out conspiracy to defame people from these communities, said the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo.

"Hence, the Rajasthan government should take strong action against him without delay," Mayawati said.

She said the organisers should also immediately "throw out" Nandy from the festival for his "casteist remarks".

Asked if the BSP will raise the issue in the budget session of parliament, she said the party will take into account steps taken by the Rajasthan government, the organisers and the "kind of apology" tendered by Nandy.

Nandy stirred up a row at Jaipur Literature Festival on Saturday, saying most of the corrupt in the country were people from the other backwards classes (OBC), the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs).

"It will be an undignified, even vulgar statement. But it is a fact that most of the corrupt come from the OBC, the Scheduled Castes and now increasingly the STs and as long as it is the case, the Indian republic will survive," he said at a session titled "Republic of Ideas".

"I will give an example. The state of least corruption is West Bengal. In 100 years, nobody from the backward classes and SC and ST have come anywhere near power in West Bengal. It is an absolutely clean state," he said.

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Delhi gang rape has left our hearts empty and minds in turmoil, President Pranab Mukherjee says

NEW DELHI: Delhi gang-rape incident has left our hearts empty and minds in turmoil, President Pranab Mukherjee said in his address to the nation on the eve of 64th Republic Day.

Referring to the brutal gang-rape case, the President said, "When we brutalise a woman, we brutalise society".

He said in the death of the victim "we lost more than a valuable life, we lost a dream."

The President also had words of support for the young protesters who took to the streets in large numbers after the shocking incident.

"If young Indians feel outraged, can we blame our youth?" he asked in his address.

"Don't take our friendship for granted"

Sponsorship of terrorism through non-state actors is a matter of deep concern, President Pranab Mukherjee said making it clear to Pakistan that India is ready to offer a hand of friendship but that should not be taken for granted.

The President said in the recent past, serious atrocities on the line of control on Indian troops have been seen, an apparent reference to the beheading of an Indian soldier by Pakistan Army.

"Neighbours may have disagreements; tension can be a subtext of frontiers. But sponsorship of terrorism through non-state actors is a matter of deep concern to the entire nation," he said.

He said India believes in peace on the border and is always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship.

"But this hand should not be taken for granted," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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I enjoy majority, says Karnataka CM Shettar

BANGALORE: Buffeted by threats of instability to his government by 13 rebel MLAs, chief minister Jagadish Shettar on Friday told governor HR Bhardwaj he still commanded majority and hinted he has not been asked by him to prove it.

"I told the governor that there is no threat to my government as I enjoy majority," Shettar told reporters here after meeting Bhardwaj who earlier hinted that he may ask the chief minister to demonstrate his strength in the assembly.

Asked whether the governor told him to prove his majority, Shettar said the issue did not come up for discussion.

However, Bhardwaj brought to his notice that 13 BJP MLAs had informed him about the "absence" of the assembly speaker KG Bopaiah when they went to him to submit their resignations from assembly membership, he added.

Shettar said he met the governor to convey the cabinet decision to invite him to address the joint session of the legislature on February 4. "He has agreed to address the joint session."

Prior to the meeting, Bhardwaj told reporters, "I have already summoned the assembly on February 4 and if I feel that this government has come into minority, then I will order him (Shettar) to prove his majority at the first instance before transacting any business."

Pushing the government into a crisis, the 13 MLAs loyal to Karnataka Janata Party chief and former BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa had gone in a delegation on Wednesday to meet Bopaiah to submit their resignation from assembly membership but in vain as he was not in station. Enraged by this, they had submitted copies of their resignation letters to Bhardwaj.

The governor said he has received letters (copies) from Yeddyurappa and also the MLAs.

"In the meantime, I have dictated my orders that this is a split in the political party of the BJP. So you study the relative strength of the party in the assembly. But assembly records were not with me. Therefore, I summoned the records. So I will see what is the strength."

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Text of President Pranab Mukherjee's speech

Here is the text of President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the nation on the eve of the 64th Republic Day.

My fellow citizens,

On the eve of our 64th Republic Day, I extend warm greetings to all of you in India and abroad. I convey my special greetings to members of our armed forces, paramilitary forces and internal security forces.

India has changed more in last six decades than in six previous centuries. This is neither accidental nor providential; history shifts its pace when touched by vision. The great dream of raising a new India from the ashes of colonialism reached a historic denouement in 1947; more important, independence became a turning point for an equally dramatic narrative, nation-building. The foundations were laid through our Constitution, adopted on 26 January 1950, which we celebrate each year as Republic Day. Its driving principle was a compact between state and citizen, a powerful public-private partnership nourished by justice, liberty and equality.

India did not win freedom from the British in order to deny freedom to Indians. The Constitution represented a second liberation, this time from the stranglehold of traditional inequity in gender, caste, community, along with other fetters that had chained us for too long.

This inspired a cultural evolution which put Indian society on the track to modernity: society changed in a gradual evolution, for violent revolution is not the Indian way. Change across the knotted weaves of the social fabric remains a work in progress, impelled by periodic reform in law and the momentum of popular will.

In the last six decades there is much that we can be proud of. Our economic growth rate has more than tripled. The literacy rate has increased by over four times. After having attained self sufficiency, now we are net exporters of food-grain. Significant reduction in the incidence of poverty has been achieved. Among our other major achievements is the drive towards gender equality.

No one suggested this would be easy. The difficulties that accompanied the first quantum leap, the Hindu code bill, enacted in 1955 tell their own story. It needed the unflinching commitment of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Babasaheb Ambedkar to push through this remarkable legislation. Jawaharlal Nehru would later describe this as perhaps the most important achievement of his life. The time has now come to ensure gender equality for every Indian woman. We can neither evade nor abandon this national commitment, for the price of neglect will be high. Vested interests do not surrender easily. The civil society and the government must work together to fulfill this national goal.

Fellow citizens,

I speak to you when a grave tragedy has shattered complacency. The brutal rape and murder of a young woman, a woman who was symbol of all that new India strives to be, has left our hearts empty and our minds in turmoil. We lost more than a valuable life; we lost a dream. If today young Indians feel outraged, can we blame our youth?

There is a law of the land. But there is also a higher law. The sanctity of a woman is a directive principle of that larger edifice called Indian civilization. The Vedas say that there is more than one kind of mother: birth mother, a guru's wife, a king's wife, a priest's wife, she who nurses us, and our motherland. Mother is our protection from evil and oppression, our symbol of life and prosperity. When we brutalise a woman, we wound the soul of our civilization.

It is time for the nation to reset its moral compass. Nothing should be allowed to spur cynicism, as cynicism is blind to morality. We must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered. The solutions to problems have to be found through discussion and conciliation of views. People must believe that governance is an instrument for good and for that, we must ensure good governance.

Fellow citizens,

We are on the cusp of another generational change; the youth of India spread across villages and towns, are in the vanguard of change. The future belongs to them. They are today troubled by a range of existential doubts. Does the system offer due reward for merit? Have the powerful lost their Dharma in pursuit of greed? Has corruption overtaken morality in public life? Does our legislature reflect emerging India or does it need radical reforms? These doubts have to be set at rest. Elected representatives must win back the confidence of the people. The anxiety and restlessness of youth has to be channelized towards change with speed, dignity and order.

The young cannot dream on an empty stomach. They must have jobs capable of serving their own as well as the nation's ambitions. It is true that we have come a long way from 1947, when our first Budget had a revenue of just over Rs.171 crore. The resource base of the Union government today is an ocean compared to that drop. But we must ensure that the fruits of economic growth do not become the monopoly of the privileged at the peak of a pyramid. The primary purpose of wealth creation must be to drive out the evil of hunger, deprivation and marginal subsistence from the base of our expanding population.

Fellow citizens,

Last year has been a testing time for us all. As we move ahead on the path of economic reforms, we must remain alive to the persisting problems of market-dependent economies. Many rich nations are now trapped by a culture of entitlement without social obligations; we must avoid this trap. The results of our policies should be seen in our villages, farms and factories, schools and hospitals.

Figures mean nothing to those who do not benefit from them. We must act immediately, otherwise the current pockets of conflict, often described as "Naxalite" violence, could acquire far more dangerous dimensions.

Fellow citizens,

In the recent past, we have seen serious atrocities on the Line of Control on our troops. Neighbours may have disagreements; tension can be a subtext of frontiers. But sponsorship of terrorism through non-state actors is a matter of deep concern to the entire nation. We believe in peace on the border and are always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship. But this hand should not be taken for granted.

Fellow citizens,

India's most impregnable asset is self-belief. Each challenge becomes an opportunity to strengthen our resolve to achieve unprecedented economic growth and social stability. Such resolve must be nourished by an avalanche of investment, particularly in better and greater education. Education is the ladder that can help those at the bottom to rise to the pinnacles of professional and social status. Education is the mantra that can transform our economic fortunes and eliminate the gaps that have made our society unequal. So far education has not reached, to the extent desired, to those most in need of this ladder. India can double its growth rate by turning today's disadvantaged into multiple engines of economic development.

On our 64th Republic Day, there may be some reason for concern, but none for despair. If India has changed more in six decades than six previous centuries, then I promise you that it will change more in the next ten years than in the previous sixty. India's enduring vitality is at work.

Even the British sensed that they were leaving a land which was very different from the one they had occupied. At the base of the Jaipur Column in Rashtrapati Bhavan there is an inscription:

"In thought faith"

In word wisdom"

In deed courage"

In life service"

So may India be great"

The spirit of India is written in stone.

Jai Hind!

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US defends decision not to seek death penalty for Headley

NEW DELHI: In a statement, the US embassy here defended its decision not to seek death penalty for Headley, saying it was done in view of his willingness to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to help bring the perpetrators to justice and help prevent other terror strikes.

"The 35-year sentence without parole imposed on David Coleman Headley marks another step in US efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks. This sentence reflects both severe punishment for Headley's role in the heinous 26/11 crimes and a decision by the US department of justice not to seek the death penalty," it said.

This decision was taken because of Headley's willingness to cooperate with law enforcement authorities — American, Indian and others — to help bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent other terrorist attacks, it added.

India made clear on Friday its disappointment over David Headley not getting a "harsher" sentence than 35 years in jail for helping plot Mumbai terror attack even as the US justified its decision against seeking death penalty for the Pakistani-American LeT terrorist.

External affairs minister Salman Khurshid while asserting that India will try to push for Headley's extradition from the US for facing trial in India said he would have got "harsher punishment" had he been tried in this country.

As the lighter sentence for 52-year-old Headley came in for condemnation in the country, Union home secretary RK Singh said he and all those who were involved in the 2008 carnage, in which 166 people were killed, should get death penalty.

Reacting to the sentencing of Headley by a Chicago court on Thursday, Khurshid said India is "disappointed" since the government wanted him to face trial in India where he would have been awarded "severest sentence."

"If the trial would have been held here, the punishment would have been tougher ... the US legal system had no provision to extradite him, but we will still try and get him tried in India," Khurshid told reporters. He, however, said the sentence handed over to Headley was a "beginning".

The home secretary said, "We want death sentence for Headley and those who were involved in killing of 166 people in Mumbai. We will keep asking for his death sentence."

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Jaipur Lit Fest: Spat between Javed Akhtar, Kancha Ilaiah

JAIPUR: A row over religion broke out between Bollywood lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar and Dalit activist and writer Kancha Illaiah at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday.

The tiff erupted after Akhtar, who was in the audience at a packed venue, interjected during a session on God and Buddhism, saying he was an atheist and no religion gave equality to women and weaker sections.

"Discussing religion was like discussing which cave will be better to live. If you want to follow a religion, follow any religion. It does not matter. If you have decided to commit suicide, does it matter how you do it?" Akhtar said, triggering applause.

To this, a fuming Ilaiah, one of the speakers, said: "Real life is not like cinema, certainly not Hindi cinema. Crores of Buddhists in India have more knowledge than intellectuals."

As the mood in the gathering got tense, moderator Patrick French wound up the session despite protests from the audience.

The other two speakers were Hindi writer and Jamia Millia Islamia teacher Ajay Navaria and Punjabi poet and writer Nirupama Dutt.

Akhtar, who was to address the next session, then took the stage and said: "All religious values should be based on justice and equality."

Ilaiah told IANS later: "What he said was bad. He can be an atheist but the rest of world cannot be atheist."

"All (Bollywood) superstars are superstitious," he added.

Akhtar countered: "If you watch cinema, it tells you a lot about life. Indians worship films."

But Ilaiah, who teaches at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad, told IANS his argument was for retrieving Buddhism to change modern Indian society.

"Buddhism in ancient India was the first religion to institutionalise the concept of justice, the concept of 'dharma'," he said, as he signed copies of his book, "God as Political Philosopher: Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism".

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'Vishwaroopam' cannot be screened in Tamil Nadu till Jan 28: Madras high court

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Thursday ruled that actor-director Kamal Haasan's " Vishwaroopam" cannot be screened in theatres across Tamil Nadu till January 28. The judge said that he will first watch the movie on January 26 after which, he would take a decision.

Earlier in the day, Haasan decided to seek legal recourse to get his film "Vishwaroopam" released on January 25 as scheduled. Buckling under pressure from some Muslim organizations opposed to the film saying it showed the community in a poor light, the state government decided on Wednesday evening to prohibit its screening in theatres across the state. The government cited law and order problems if the film was released in theatres in the state on the same day when Milad un-Nabi was celebrated.

Lashing out at Muslim groups protesting against his film, the actor said, despite having always worked for communal amity, he was now being ruthlessly used as a vehicle by small groups seeking a political profile.

"Any neutral and patriotic Muslim will surely feel pride on seeing my film. It was designed for that purpose," said the actor in a brief statement. Kamal Haasan, who is in the US for preparations for the film's overseas release on Friday, said, "Now I will rely on law and logic to come to our support. This kind of cultural terrorism will have to stop."

While he was touched by the voices in support for him and his film, he was appalled at how it was construed to be against "my Muslim brothers", said the actor. "I am not only hurt by these accusations of denigrating a community but my sensibilities are truly insulted," he said. Sources said the actor moved the Madras high court this morning and the case is likely to he taken up shortly.

"My statements in favour of the Muslim community have marked me as a sympathizer. I have always gone beyond the call of my duty as an actor to voice my opinion in favour of what was humane and civil. I have been part of an organization called Harmony India which worked for Hindu Muslim amity," Haasan said in his statement.

Thanking those who "rose to the occasion" and to his support on the Internet, the actor said, "Icon bashing is a great way to be noticed when you are not one yourself. It is happening again and again."

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Road construction along China border moving at snail's pace

NEW DELHI: India's strategic road construction along China border, which have significance for Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), is moving at snail's pace in Sikkim and Uttarkhand. Sources said that the ITBP is unhappy with the poor progress on the new stretches that are being constructed by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in these two states and there are chances that the border police would prefer not to give any such work to the agency in future.

Government had launched the programme to build 27 link roads totaling 804 km in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 1,937 crore and the works were originally targeted to be completed by this March end.

While CPWD has got eight projects, Border Roads Organization (BRO) is involved in 15 projects. National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) has two roads and Himachal PWD has another two roads. ITBP sources said that while the total progress of construction in the case of CPWD is about 40% and bitumen laying work is yet to start; two projects by NPCC covering almost 145 km in Jammu and Kashmir are 91% complete.

CPWD officials said they have tough terrains to work both in Uttarakhand and Sikkim which are located at altitude as high as 17,500 ft. For example the Siagang to Kerang road is perhaps the stretch that passes through country's second highest altitude. Officially, the Khardung La (Khardung Pass) in Leh is a motorable road at the highest altitude.

"We are constructing roads facing major climatic constraints. Moving man and machinery is very difficult and you have short period to carry out construction," said a source. Officials said that they are using the granular sub base or inverted choke design to build these roads. This design ensures drainage of all water that accumulates on the surface or passes through layers. "If the water is not drained out quickly, then there is fear of the water becoming ice. Any such formation below the bituminous stretch causes early damage of the road," said an engineer involved in such projects.

In Sikkim, the progress is about 30% in the case of Dombang to Gorala Road while it's 25% on Giagang-Kerang Road stretch. The progress is worst on the Thangu-Muguthang stretch at 5%.

Constructing these stretches are crucial for supply of food and other essential items for the ITBP forces deployed along the border. As present animals are used to transport goods and in the worst case ITBP personnel carry items with them.

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Road construction along China border moving at snail's pace: ITBP

NEW DELHI: India's strategic road construction along China border, which have significance for Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), is moving at snail's pace in Sikkim and Uttarkhand. Sources said that the ITBP is unhappy with the poor progress on the new stretches that are being constructed by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in these two states and there are chances that the border police would prefer not to give any such work to the agency in future.

Government had launched the programme to build 27 link roads totaling 804 km in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 1,937 crore and the works were originally targeted to be completed by this March end.

While CPWD has got eight projects, Border Roads Organization (BRO) is involved in 15 projects. National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) has two roads and Himachal PWD has another two roads. ITBP sources said that while the total progress of construction in the case of CPWD is about 40% and bitumen laying work is yet to start; two projects by NPCC covering almost 145 km in Jammu and Kashmir are 91% complete.

CPWD officials said they have tough terrains to work both in Uttarakhand and Sikkim which are located at altitude as high as 17,500 ft. For example the Siagang to Kerang road is perhaps the stretch that passes through country's second highest altitude. Officially, the Khardung La (Khardung Pass) in Leh is a motorable road at the highest altitude.

"We are constructing roads facing major climatic constraints. Moving man and machinery is very difficult and you have short period to carry out construction," said a source. Officials said that they are using the granular sub base or inverted choke design to build these roads. This design ensures drainage of all water that accumulates on the surface or passes through layers. "If the water is not drained out quickly, then there is fear of the water becoming ice. Any such formation below the bituminous stretch causes early damage of the road," said an engineer involved in such projects.

In Sikkim, the progress is about 30% in the case of Dombang to Gorala Road while it's 25% on Giagang-Kerang Road stretch. The progress is worst on the Thangu-Muguthang stretch at 5%.

Constructing these stretches are crucial for supply of food and other essential items for the ITBP forces deployed along the border. As present animals are used to transport goods and in the worst case ITBP personnel carry items with them.

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Centre asks Tamil Nadu govt to reconsider ban on 'Vishwaroopam'

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday asked Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision to ban the screening of KamalHaasan's film " Vishwaroopam" saying the Supreme Court had in a verdict held that the censor board's view on such matters was binding on all.

"The Supreme Court of India in Prakash Jha's matter had the occasion of considering the various provisions of the Cinematograph Act and juxtaposing them against the law and order powers which the state government has under the Constitution," information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said here.

"And the Supreme Court was very categorical that Article 246, seventh schedule, list one, entry sixty gives the central government the powers to certify films for exhibition and once the Central Board for Film Certification has taken a particular view, it binds all the other instrumentalities of the state," he added.

Tewari asked Tamil Nadu government to study the earlier verdict of the apex court before it acted in the matter.

"I suggest that Tamil Nadu government peruse that judgment of the Supreme Court in Prakash Jha's case before coming to any conclusion which may fall foul of the very clear directive which the court has given," Tewari added.

Tamil Nadu government had on Wednesday banned the screening of the big-budget Kamal Haasan film following protests by some Muslim organizations against alleged depiction of their community in a negative light.

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China confers top science award on CNR Rao

BEIJING: Noted Indian scientist Dr CNR Rao has been conferred with China's top science award for his important contributions in boosting China-India scientific cooperation.

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Wednesday gave its 2012 Award for International Scientific Cooperation to three scientists from India, Germany, and Russia.

Rao, 79, founder of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research ( JNCASR), Bangalore, shared the 2012 award with Herbert Jaeckle of Germany's Max Planck Society and Russian space physicist GA Zherebtsov.

The awards are given every year by the CAS, which is China's top academic and research institution for natural sciences.

It has so far honoured 17 international scientists for their contributions in China-foreign research cooperation, since the prize was instituted in 2007.

"Rao is devoted to the research of solid-state and structural chemistry. He was awarded for his important contributions in boosting scientific cooperation between China and India, as well as raising the scientific capabilities of developing countries", state-run Xinhua news agency quoted CAS as saying in a statement.

Rao has won various prestigious awards. He is currently the head of the scientific advisory council to the Indian Prime Minister.

German scientist Jaeckle specialized in the fields of molecular developmental biology. He has actively promoted scientific cooperation between China and Germany, CAS said.

He has explored and put into practice approaches that integrate a Max Planck management model with the CAS's scientific research system, as well as set up an international team of researchers, it said.

Zherebtsov has actively promoted the construction of a Sino-Russian weather research centre and is currently working to get Russia involved in a CAS space science programme, the CAS said.

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Strengthening the cultural fabric

SINGAPORE: Even as an increasingly westernized India is turning its back on its ancient crafts and wares, Europeans are drawing their inspiration from exuberant patterns in surface design from Indian culture, weaving magic in furnishing fabrics.

India has been an inspiration to many international design houses and now it has also carved out a significant spot for itself on the global interior design map. This was reflected in the debut 100 % Design show held in Singapore last week wherein striking patterns and inventive motifs inspired by Southeast Asian art and aesthetics formed a part of the European fabric on display.

Pierre Frey Fabrics from Paris, the company which showcased its products during the design show, is heavily influenced by cultures of Asia, linking the past with the present and making Indian-inspired fabrics and furnishings mainstream across the globe. Given the fact that India is a melting pot of different cultures; ace designers are drawing inspiration from the rich Indian history and is no surprise that the influence of Indian customs vehemently reflects in their design collections.

Enthused by historic Indian architecture, immemorial stone carvings, traditional costumes and embroidery patterns, the company founded in 1935 designs, creates and manufactures fabrics and wallpapers in the purest French tradition. "In India, exuberant patterns in surface design abound. The Frey fabrics have been enriched with a multitude of designs, figures, animals, and Gods, reflecting the vitality of the Indian people, their environment, and the social, cultural, and political influences affecting their lives," said Matthieu.

That said, the diversity of not only India but other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, China and Japan culture can be found in Frey's designs that include print designs ranging from ikat, batik, embroidery to more. "Though the influence of different countries on fabric design is not new, we work in fabric to express images that come to us from life — from nature, art, stone, jewelry, costume, literature and prayer," said Matthieu Frey, chief representative, Asia Pacific, Pierre Frey Fabrics. "Textiles have energy and sensuality unlike any other medium and this enhances the creative process for our family, which has been designing fabric since the last several generations," Frey added.

Pierre Frey uses historical textile documents in their current line. Some fabrics are recreated as close to the originals as possible, others undergo changes in scale or colors in order to give them new life. "We have a broad range of styles that we offer, so top interior designers, architects, and home stores come to us for our classic designs, like our Braquenie collection, some come to us for our more modern Pierre Frey designs, some for the elegant silks and embroideries from Fadini Borghi, and some for the playful patterns found by Boussac," Frey explained.

Matthieu shared with TOI the story of their prestigious design house, the origins of the most popular French textiles and the secret behind the creation of original and beautiful fabrics for over 75 years.

Drawing inspiration from a vast digital archive comprising 30,000 images, he explained the evolution of tastes in accordance to the needs and ideals of different historic periods. Among the various images, particularly fascinating were the large, lavish and imposing fabrics with big stylized flowers and the Chinese-Indian elements that characterized Louis XIV fabrics from the 17th century.

Fond of design, Matthieu's father started to collect pictures of old fabrics, carpets and wallpapers before and after starting the family business in 1935. Since 2003, the family decided to gather in Paris all the images at its disposal, including designs from the company's four brands and selections of rare pieces acquired from antique dealers, giving birth to a remarkable collection of archives at the disposal of professionals all over the world. The archives represent an important source of inspiration to create modern interiors. "These documents are our roots. Heritage and capacity to observe are essential to enhance one's creativity," said Matthieu.

Unlike the fashion industry that can rely on continuous fashion shows to spread its brands all over the world, fabric designs aren't much advertised. Most people who have fabrics in their homes don't even know where they come from, how they were created and who is behind the fabric.

The fabrics and garments created by different countries and cultures are blueprints of their societies as well as a mixture of the influences collected from other cultures. The beauty of all cultural contributions forms a complex and colorful tapestry filled with heritage origination.

History and inspiration behind the Pierre Frey fabrics across SE Asia

GAYA

The Pierre Frey Company could not resist buying a set of drawings in the paint shop located in the historic center of Bangalore to create a print. The pattern of the shimmering and vibrant ceremonial costumes of Rajasthan was reproduced and today is a hot-selling fabric design.

MACAO This majestic composition of antique Chinese vases was inspired by a remarkable porcelain collection. Available in two versions, indigo blue and lacquered red, this cotton print is spectacular in both its precision, detailed motifs and the impressive size of the objects represented.

TACHKENDT

This is a reproduction of a traditional embroidered Suzani motif from Uzbekistan, on beautiful cotton satin.

MERSINA

Jacquard inspired by traditional dresses of Miao women.

LA CITE INTERDITE

Inspired by a 19th-century Chinese painting found in the hidden treasures of a collector in Peking, this pure linen print describes the court life of an unknown city at the time of the great emperors. The detail of the characters and the finish make this extremely authentic fabric very close to the original.

BANGALORE

Borrowed from the magnificent decors of the Maharajahs palaces in India, this printed fabric represents cashmeres and floral patterns.

INDORE

This Indian print on a cotton linen blend is made up of very spectacular rosettes inspired by a 19th century document.

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Interior designs' exhibition held in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Renowned as Asia's financial capital, lion city and media hub, Singapore recently set out to add another feather to its cap - of being a force to reckon with in design and architecture. Singapore may not be a large city, but there's no lack of design and architectural marvels on the island. Exceptional concepts with practical design providing inspiration for design excellence are scattered across its landscape. What comes across is that architecture and design are important to Singapore and that the professional world understands and admires Singapore as a consequence.

This came to the fore at the recent "100% Design Singapore", the first and only curated contemporary design-led interiors exhibition in Southeast Asia featuring the theme "55:75:95". Conceptualized by award-winning design consultancy VW+BS, the theme was an exploration of Asian lifestyles and how they are similar and different from those in the West. The aim of the convention was to shine a spotlight on the Southeast Asian lifestyle and see how it influences interior design and how it differs from design in the rest of the world.

"Singapore has a come a long way," said 100% Design Singapore curator Voon Wong, who's also a partner at British design consultancy VW+BS. "The Singapore design and interior scene has been very vibrant in recent years. Veterans and also young professionals have contributed to a variety of projects both big and small," said Wong.

Better appreciation of design and maturity of the consumer were also the key reasons the organizers of the inaugural 100% Design Singapore brought the debut event to Singapore. Annually the event has been held in London for the last 18 years.

Organized by Reed Exhibitions, world's leading event organizer, the 3-day contemporary design exhibition shaped out to be the perfect platform for exhibitors to showcase the latest creations to Asian buyers. The show provided a venue for visitors to exchange, explore and discuss current cultural and design thinking. Key words—creativity, originality and innovation—inspired and spread the message of good design.

The exhibition presented the latest in furniture, lighting, floor/wall coverings for interior designers, architects, property developers and retailers. Showcasing lifestyles and cultural differences in design, whilst highlighting the Southeast Asia identity, the concept of live, work and play environments through installation were the highpoint of the show. Ian Macready, Director VW+BS said that an intelligent approach to design ensures that what we do today will still be thriving for our future generations. "Spaces in which we work, live, learn and play should be healthy and engaging to all its users," Macready said.

Elaborating on metamorphosis of design, designers focused on design solutions. Talking about India and its association with interior design, they said that though still in its infancy, the design scenario was gradually growing. "In Southeast Asia including countries like Thailand, Indonesia, India, products and versatile designs are redirecting old school thoughts with fresh aesthetics and utility values," said Rosan Bosch, CEO and founder of Rosan Bosch studio. "Design is a perfect tool for change. The idea is to script the needs of individuals and create spaces which can be used differently," said Bosch.

Whether it is India or Singapore, designers and architects said that the 100 % Design show elaborated on the need to employ an integrated and innovative approach to design and project delivery. Every country including India needs to innovate on its design, which could in turn propel economic growth and enhance quality of life of its citizens. "Interior design is an integral aspect of most architecture projects. This creative arena needs to be approached with the same attention to creativity and detail whether in Singapore or India. The need of the hour is to work on projects with an attempt to translate the clients' aspirations into reality," said Shriya Sinha, Interior Designer, Adedas Interiors Pte Ltd, Singapore.

"The idea is to shine a spotlight on the Southeast Asian lifestyle and see how it influences interior design and how it differs from design in the rest of the world," Wong said.

"We are living in times of change and constant evolution. Individuals are constantly evaluating and looking for varied options and new choices for business as well as society. The need of the hour for designers is to be innovative as well as original, because many accepted approaches are outmoded and no longer effective. To do this we must conceive of new techniques that improve the quality of ideas and increase the range of people able to participate in creativity and what better way than through trade shows and conventions," he added.

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