Telangana Crisis: Nothing is acceptable other than Telangana says TRS

Hyderabad: Ahead of the meeting of eight recognised political parties convened by the Centre to discuss the Srikrishna Committee report and the way forward, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Saturday night said anything short of statehood for Telangana will not be acceptable to it.

"We make it abundantly clear to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that we will not accept anything short of Telangana (statehood)," TRS President K Chandrasekhar Rao said at a meeting of Telangana Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Officers associations in Hyderabad.

Hoping that the Centre would not come up with any proposal that is short of statehood for Telangana, he said such proposals would be insulting to the region and the party would not hesitate to walk out of the meeting if it felt the need to do so.

Nothing short of Telangana acceptable: TRS

Soon after the submission of the committee report on Thursday, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said he proposed to convene a meeting of eight recognised political parties of Andhra Pradesh on January 6.

Chidambaram had said the government will consider the report carefully and begin the process of consultations with all parties before taking a decision.

In the event of the UPA not taking steps for formation of separate Telangana, MLAs and other public representatives from Congress and TDP, the major parties in the state, will have to resign to mount pressure on the Centre, Rao said.

"While talking about the heavy security deployment being made in Telangana, I asked what our political battalion is doing. You (the government employees in Telangana) say you are ready to conduct a spirited campaign like pen-down strike. If they have shame, the Telangana political battalion should move," Rao said.

Seeking to mount pressure on TDP and ruling Congress, he said these major parties are speaking in two voices on the Telangana demand, but they will have to make their stand clear at the meeting convened by the Centre.

Pointing out that the Centre gave an assurance in Parliament on formation of Telangana state, he said what is the meaning for democracy if promises are not implemented.

Observing that remarkable awareness in support of statehood demand has come in Telangana, he said people have to be prepared for a protracted struggle to achieve the goal.

"Our enemies would try to defeat us. But we should not fall into their trap. Students and youth may be anxious for Telangana. They should not be carried away. We have to be strategic and fight till the goal is achieved," he said.

Apprehending that some sections of the media may try to play spoilsport, he said the Telangana people should be aware of such things.

Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan

Washington: A top-ranking Taliban leader, who was trained in Pakistan and involved in making improvised explosive devices, suicide vests and anti-aircraft weapons, has been killed by the NATO troops in Afghanistan's restive Kinduz province.

Afghan police and the provincial governor said the coalition forces killed Mullah Bahador, the Taliban's 'shadow governor' in the province, in an overnight raid on Thursday, the 'New York Times' reported.

Abdul Rahman Saidkhaili, the provincial police chief, said the target of the raid was a house in the Chardara district.

Top Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan

In a statement, coalition forces confirmed that they had killed an insurgent leader who "makes improvised explosive devices and suicide vests, leads a group of Taliban fighters and employs anti-aircraft weapons against Afghan and coalition forces."

Several insurgents were also arrested in the operation, the statement said.

Kunduz province, which borders the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan, has become increasingly violent in the past two years, as Taliban fighters have relocated their bases after coalition operations against them in southern Afghanistan.

Kunduz city is now nearly cut off by violence, with all roads leading out controlled by the Taliban and other armed groups.

The governor of Kunduz was killed in October in a bomb blast as he prayed in a mosque, and four Taliban suicide bombers killed five policemen two weeks ago.

Mullah Bahador was responsible for coordinating attacks against coalition forces in the Kunduz area, said Abdul Wahid Omar Khail, the governor of the Chardara district.

"He has been doing terrorist activities for the past three years; he was trained in one of the madrasas in Pakistan," he was quoted as saying.

Mullah Bahador was the fourth Taliban governor in Kunduz, officials said; three previous ones were killed or fled to Pakistan.

Aarushi's parents deny CBI report

Noida: Aarushi Talwar's parents have criticised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for suspecting the teenager's father in her mysterious murder case. Aarushi mother Nupur Talwar called the investigative agency officials of being unscientific while denying the CBI closure report that alleges the teenager's father Rajesh Talwar is the only suspect in the case.
"I can't imagine an agency like the CBI doing such a thing. If they had chargesheeted, I would have defended myself in the trial. But this is something they have purposely left hanging to us for the rest of our lives. You close the case, yet you are left with suspicions on you the rest of your life. It's been two and a half years, today Rajesh is not able to sit here and talk to you, because he is completely broken and shattered. He says when justice for my child is going to come?" Nupur Talwar said.
"These allegations are so wild, so speculative, and so imaginative that means there are people in the CBI who are absolutely unscientific. I mean they don't even think like intelligent police officers. This is the state of the CBI? I absolutely cannot expect this to happen. I am going to wait for the report. This is all being said on the basis of what you are saying, if the CBI has said it or not, I didn't even know that. But if they have said it, and they have just said it out of their wild imagination, and they have just put false allegations to us, they are going to have to deal with it," she said.

"We are re-living the horrific events of May, June and July 2008 all over again. For us the CBI is one organisation. It amazes us that the theory of the CBI keeps changing with the change of the team. Is anyone considering why the previous team gave us the clean chit? It seems like the present team is making allegations through the backdoor although by their own admission they have no conclusive evidence. We are very distraught and hurt by what has happened," she added.

Talwars' lawyer Rebecca John said that the closure report would be challenged in the court.

"We will make a response to each and every allegation made by the cbi once we get a complete copy of the closure report. We will definitely refute these allegations in court," Rebecca said.

In its closure report filed on Wednesday the CBI had allegedly said the only suspect they had so far was Rajesh Talwar but the evidence was insufficient and tainted. The closure reportedly said that the CBI could not prove anything against him or the three servants taken into custody for the murder of Aarushi and Talwar's domestic help Hemraj. Till now neither the murder weapon has been recovered nor has the motive for the double murder been established.

The CBI closed the double murder case, more than two-and-a-half years after the teenager was brutally murdered in Noida.

On May 17, 2008, Aarushi Talwar, a 14-year-old school student and daughter of a dentist couple, was found dead with her throat slit in the bedroom of her flat in Jal Vayu Vihar in Noida. On the next day, domestic help Hemraj's body found on terrace of Talwar's residence. Former domestic help Vishnu Sharma was named as a suspect.

In a twist in the murder case, the Uttar Pradesh Police then arrested Arushi's father Rajesh Talwar on May 23, claiming they suspected this to be a case of honour killing,

The CBI, which took over the investigation, arrested Talwar's compounder Krishna on June 13.

Vijay Mondal, the domestic help of one of Talwar's neighbours was also later arrested by the CBI.

After spending 50 days in Jail, Rajesh Talwar was released. The arrest followed polygraph test and Narco Analysis test.

Bollywood has many in store for 2011

Looks like Bollywood's finally growing up. 2011's line-up is an impressive mix of big budget multi-starrers, intelligent films directed by intelligent filmmakers and eagerly awaited indies.

How they all fare with the critics and the box-office is, of course, something that remains to be seen

Commercial cinema – good or bad – needs at least a two year incubation period from the idea to the release of a film. The global recession of 2008 thus affected Bollywood fortunes in 2010. That and its lack of creativity as the big budget films lacked spunk and idea – safe as Bollywood is in the faulty knowledge that stars are enough – made the industry lose close to Rs 500 crores this year.

Despite these debacles Bollywood stars make a major comeback in 2011 with multiple films of each in the offing. Aamir Khan has two sure and one probable release, Shahrukh has two, Salman Khan with as much as six, while Hrihtik Roshan has three, Akshay Kumar seven, Ajay Devgn two while both the new stars Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor have three releases each.

Any other year and it would been an easy story to do with the title reading something like '11 films to watch out for in 2011' and the article carrying a roster of the big releases of the year. But as 2010 proved beyond any doubt that the small intelligent film has as much chance at the box office as the biggie, we bring you a rooster of those in the race, and not just the star attractions. Nothing's sure in 2011 except that merely star appeal will not work.

Sequels Galore
Sequels, till a few years back the exception in Bollywood, might make a splash this year with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don 2 directed by Farhan Akthar, Abbas-Mustan's Race 2 starring Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor and John Abraham, Abhishek Kapoor with Rock On 2, David Dhawan's Salman Khan and Govinda starrer Partner 2, Indra Kumar's Dhamaal 2 with Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom 3, Tarun Mansukhani's Dostana 2 and Anees Bazmee's Hera Pheri 4 fighting it out at theatres near you. Phew.

Stand-alone Biggies
Shah Rukh Khan's home production Ra.One is due early 2011. The Deol family's outing with Yamla Pagla Deewana is another eagerly awaited film. Nikhil Advani will return with the Akshay Kumar starrer Patiala House, while Shirish Kunder will keep his fingers crossed this time with 2010's hit jodi, Salman and Sonakshi, in his film Kick. Aamir Khan productions will release its first English film Delhi Belly with Imran Khan in the lead and first-timer Abhinav Deo in the director's chair, while Aamir will also star in Farhan Akhtar's yet untitled film with Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee and directed by Honeymoon Travels' Reema Kagti.

'Bluffmaster' Rohan Sippy will reunite with Abhishek Bachchan in Dum Maro Dum while the south Indian hit Khakha Khakha will be remade by Vipul Shah and star John Abraham. Vidhu Vinod Chopra Production returns, with debutant and Rajkumar Hirani's protégé, Rajesh Mapuskar in Ferrari Ki Sawaari. Tigmanshu Dhulia also makes a comeback with Shagird starring Nana Patekar. Ali Abbas Zafar debuts with Mere Brother Ki Dhulhan with Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead.

Food for Thought
After the big commercial directors failed miserably in 2010, the focus will shift to the intelligent band of commercial Bollywood makers with their more modestly-budgeted films. Reticent autuer Vishal Bharadwaj returns with Saat Khoon Maaf, starring Neil Nitin Mukesh, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham; Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar stars rock star Ranbir Kapoor. Sudhir Mishra will hopefully see his luck shine with two hopefuls in Tera Kya Hoga Johnny (originally slated for 2010) and Yeh Saali Zindagi. Other promising films incluce Madhur Bhandarkar's Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji starring Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi, Zoya Akhthar with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara starring Hrithik Roshan, brother Farhan and Abhay Deol, Anurag Kashyap's yet untitled film with Aamir Khan and Pankaj Kapoor's Mausam starring son Sahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor etc.

Also, Aamir director Raj Kumar Gupta returns with No One Killed Jessica, while Anees Bazmee is the director with most films in 2011 with Thank You, Hera Pheri 4, Ready, It's My Life and another untitled film.

Indie-go Nation
If 2010 is any indications, the low budget independent film will play a crucial role in 2011. The most expected indie of the year, of course, is debutant director Kiran Rao's Dhobi Ghat. There are many first-time directors who will try and make their mark this year such as Bedabrata Pain's take on the revolutionary Masterda in Chittagong and Alankrita Srivastava's Turning 30 with Gul Panag and Purab Kohli. Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms spurred by the tremendous success of Love, Sex Aur Dhokha, will try hitting the jackpot with the similarly-styled Ragini MMS, while Shorr, originally slated for a 2010 release, will hit screens this year as well. Both are by debutant filmmakers as well. Also, Onir's experimental, cooperatively-funded I Am will also release alongside all these indies.

Canned and Ready
Every year hundreds of low-budget films get made, many of them extremely worthy (like Dibakar Banerjee's Khosla Ka Ghosla that went unreleased for two years), but which end up in the bin waiting for distributors to pick them up. Estimates peg that number in 2010 to be at least 150 such films. After many indies becoming hits in 2010, hopefully some of these will find a release in 2011.

2011 is an open house in Bollywood and like in 2010 many biggies will fall while we'll see many small, sleeper hits. As we herald the New Year, we've only got this to say – may the best films win.

Priyanka Chopra nervous about 2011

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra looks back at the past decade with pride, but hints that she is a little 'nervous' about what the future holds for her. Nevertheless, she is raring to go.

"Today woke up with a strange sense of nervousness, fear maybe.. Worry also.. Wondering what direction life will take... new or familiar? I've always been God's favourite child. N everything happened for a reason. I look back at the last ten years n have a knowing smile that I'm right," Priyanka posted on her Twitter page Saturday.

The year 2010 proved to be an average for the National award-winning actress with films like "Pyaar Impossible" and "Anjaana Anjaani", and she is looking forward to a great New Year.

"It's the end of a decade. The most important one of my life. May this new decade bring only happiness and peace to all of you. Thank u for always standing by me," she added.

She has also wished her friends and fans love and success.

"Here's wishing you all the ability and power to love and spread love.. The world needs that more than anything. And so do we all. Happy 2011."

Priyanka's next release will be Vishal Bharadwaj's "7 Khoon Maaf", in which she has donned seven different looks.

Telecom ministry to come with new policy: Kapil

NEW DELHI: In an effort to infuse greater transparency into the sector, telecom minister Kapil Sibal announced formulation of a new and comprehensive National Telecom Policy 2011 that he says will be "clear and transparent."

"Eleven years have passed since NTP'99 and many changes have taken place thereafter. Action will be initiated to formulate a comprehensive NTP 2011," the minister told reporters while releasing the 100-day agenda for telecom sector.

He, however, did not elaborate if changes would be made to the existing NTP'99 policy in respect of allocation of spectrum on the basis of first-come first-served. Sources, however, said that revenue share would continue to be the regime for payment of licence fee by operators.

The Department of Telecom (DoT) will hold consultations with key stakeholders to evolve a "clear and transparent" regime covering licencing, spectrum allocation, tariffs/pricing, linkage with roll-out performance, spectrum sharing, trading and mergers and acquisition.

The announcement comes on the heels of the controversy surrounding the allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008 at 2001 prices.

He said that three elements -- reasonable revenue for government, affordable services to users and robust growth of the sector -- would be kept in mind while framing the new policy.

"We need to balance all these three elements," Sibal said, adding that the government should not get revenue at the cost of industry while industry should not make super normal profits at the cost of consumers by keeping tariffs high.

He also emphasised that spectrum needs to be made available to meet the demand and the DoT would initiate a dialogue with the department of space, ministries of I&B and defence to get the spectrum vacated for civil use.

On extending Mobile Number Portability, a service that allows subscribers to retain their number while changing the service provider, from Haryana to the rest of the country, the minister said that country-wide launch of MNP was on DoT's priority list.

The government had launched the service from Haryana in November and had announced to cover the remaining parts of the country by January 20.

On the launch of 3G services, which have been delayed due to security concerns, he said: "Steps would be taken to enable operators to launch services in their entire plenitude without delay.

"Security issues regarding telecom equipment procurement, messenger services and subscriber verification will be resolved. Steps will be taken to establish the Central Monitoring System which will facilitate and prevent misuse of lawful interception facility," Sibal added.

Sreesanth crossed the line : MS Dhoni

CAPE TOWN: Temperamental paceman S Sreesanth was on Saturday rebuked by his own captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his verbal spat with rival captain Graeme Smith, who accused the Indian speedster of crossing the line by "bringing in family and personal things".

While Dhoni said that Sreesanth should learn to control himself and not cross the line, Smith disclosed that the Kerala pacer had become personal during his verbal exchange during the second Test in Durban and had stepped over the mark.

Giving details about the unsavoury episode, Smith said "I think pretty much every series you play, guys would like to have a go at you. Its just that through out my 90 Tests, I have played many Tests and it hasn't been that aggressive... You stop by bringing families and few personal things into the game. May be you are crossing the line".

Asked whether the altercation will mar the relationship between the two team, he said "No, not between the teams. It's one individual that has caused a few hassles and maybe crossed the line in certain ways. Both the teams are mature and we have dealt with - even myself and MS - there is a lot of respect for both teams,"

However, the South African captain didn't want to divulge whether they would take up the issue with the match referee.

"Look that's stuff I don't really want to get into. If we have a concern, we raise it with the ICC and the match referee, not in press conferences," he quipped.

Smith feels that two teams can remain competitive without even crossing the line.

"I think it's going to be competitive, and that's what everyone wants to see. No one wants to step over that mark as it has been at times. We all need to take the responsibility to play the game in the right way," the Proteas skipper said.

His Indian counterpart Dhoni also admitted that it's difficult to control Sreesanth at times.

"It's quite difficult to control Sreesanth. Hopefully, he will be on the right side this time, and if he's suppose to say something, say something that's not very personal and to the point," the Indian captain said.

"When you are representing your country, you try your best to win games, but as I always say, certain guidelines need to be followed. You always have to be on the right side of that line," Dhoni said.