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Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Indo-US civil nuclear deal is proceeding smoothly: Nirupama Rao,Stop terrorism or we will deal with you, India warns Pakistan.Muslims & Christians rally for govt job quota!Jairam Ramesh hopeful of early passage of National Green Tribunal!Rs.5 crore g

 
Indo-US civil nuclear deal is proceeding smoothly: Nirupama Rao,Stop terrorism or we will deal with you, India warns Pakistan.Muslims & Christians rally for govt job quota!Jairam Ramesh hopeful of early passage of National Green Tribunal!Rs.5 crore garland for Mayawati?Govt. to create a National Population Register!
 
Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams- Chapter 459
 
Palash Biswas
 

Ambassador Roemer hopeful of Parliament's nod on N-liability Bill

Oneindia - ‎21 hours ago‎
For the UPA led Government, the Nuclear Liability Bill is vital for the implementation of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. It is keen to have this cleared ...

'There is no slowdown in Indo-US relations'

Rediff - Suveen K Sinha - ‎4 hours ago‎
The civil nuclear deal embodies it, but the climate totally changed. That created a level playing field for us and now we can compete. ...

Obama names Clinton as certification authority of Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal

Sify - ‎Mar 11, 2010‎
The Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement, known also as the Indo-US nuclear deal, refers to a bilateral accord on civil nuclear cooperation between the two ...

Menon briefs Cong leaders on benefits of nuke liability bill

Hindustan Times - ‎42 minutes ago‎
The bill is a key step for operationalisation of Indo-US nuclear deal. The bill, which provides for compensation in the event of a nuclear mishap and the ...

Deepening bond

Deccan Herald - ‎20 hours ago‎
Russia has been competing for nuclear contracts in India. Though it was the Indo-US nuclear deal that opened the doors of India's nuclear business, ...

Putin Steps Into the India Breach

Wall Street Journal - Sumit Ganguly - ‎Mar 14, 2010‎
Thanks to the arduous efforts of the Bush administration, which helped forge the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear accord, India can now engage in the ...
Indo-Russian deal The Nation, Pakistan

Left, BJP for ratification of important treaties by Parliament

Daily News & Analysis - ‎Mar 12, 2010‎
PTI New Delhi: The Left parties, which had sought ratification of the Indo-US nuclear deal by Parliament two years ago, today pressed for such a provision ...

Remaining steps of n-deal may be completed in few months: US

The Hindu - ‎Feb 19, 2010‎
PTI Describing the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal as a game changer for bilateral ties, the Obama Administration has said the remaining steps of the historic ...

Adamant BJP to put UPA in trouble

Express Buzz - ‎8 hours ago‎
... committee," stated former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, thus making it difficult for the UPA Government to operationalise the Indo-US Nuclear deal. ...
  1. Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement - Wikipedia, the free ...

     - 11 Mar
    Jump to Formal signing of the deal‎: US President George W Bush signed the legislation on the Indo-US nuclear deal into law on October 8. ...
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-U.S._civilian_nuclear_agreement - Cached
  2. Highlights of Indo-US nuclear deal

    25 Nov 2009 ... Financial express latest business and finance news: Highlights of Indo-US nuclear deal.
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  3. INDIA – US NUCLEAR DEAL – The Benefits

    Ultimately the India – US Nuclear deal has to translate into economics, commerce, ... details and possible concessions to salvage the deal in the US Congress. .... The IndoUS Nuclear deal is in fact dumping the past and unlocking the ...
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    23 Feb 2006 ... The details of the negotiations between India and America on the nuclear deal are hardly .... Complete coverage: The Indo-US nuclear tango ...
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    29 Jul 2005 ... The truth behind the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal .... Let the details of the Strobe Talbott-Jaswant Singh negotiations be made public. ...
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  6. Indo-US Nuclear Deal: In Whose Interests - EPW

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  7. news.outlookindia.com | Indo-US Nuclear Deal 'Landmark' in ...

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    news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?669970 - Cached
  8. Flipkart.com: Indo - Us Nuclear Deal: P. R. Chari: Books: Indo Us ...

    Related Tags indo us nuclear deal details indo us nuclear deal seeking synergy in bilateralism indo us nuclear deal r chari indo us nuclear deal chari ...
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    Play-safe govt pulls N-bill

    New Delhi, March 15: A cautious Centre today stepped back to avoid fresh trouble in Parliament by deciding not to introduce a bill that sets a cap on nuclear liability despite mentioning it in the list of business.

    The primary reason for the embarrassing withdrawal in the Lok Sabha appears to be stiff opposition to the bill from the NDA and the Left in addition to doubts in the minds of principal ally Trinamul Congress.

    The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill aims to lay down mechanisms and rules for liability claims and payments that might arise because of a nuclear incident and to pave the way for India to join an international liability regime.

    Although the government claimed the bill had not been introduced because some members questioned the competence of Parliament to enact such a legislation, the numerical uncertainty in the House did influence the decision.

    The government suspected that the Opposition might insist on a division as parleys to ensure introduction of the bill had drawn a muted response. This is not the first time that a bill has not been introduced after being listed.

    Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal and science and technology minister Prithviraj Chavan said the bill was not introduced as some members had misgivings about its provisions and questioned Parliament's legislative competence. The rules say a bill can be stopped at the introductory stage only on ground of legislative competence.

    Parliament's legislative competence is being questioned on the ground that no cap on compensation can be fixed for an accident when the extent of damage is not known.

    The Speaker had received around 14 notices in the morning objecting to the bill and some of them referred to legislative competence.

    Bansal said the bill was anyway supposed to be referred to the standing committee, which could not have taken it up because of its preoccupation with demands for grants during the recess.

    He asserted that the bill would be introduced after the break and sent to the standing committee, adding that the government did not press for it as there was no urgency. He denied Mamata Banerjee was opposed to the bill.

    Speculation was rife that the government might opt for an ordinance so that the Prime Minister could show movement on the issue before he embarked on a trip to the US in April. But government sources discounted such a possibility, insisting there was no link between the Prime Minister's US visit and the bill.

    When Speaker Meira Kumar announced the government's decision not to introduce the bill, L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Yashwant Sinha protested.

    The parliamentary affairs minister said it was solely the government's prerogative to choose the timing of introducing a bill.

      http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100316/jsp/frontpage/story_12221090.jspTODAY -

    16 March, 2010


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    Pawar says no to direct subsidy to consumerOne killed in militant attack in SrinagarVarun, Smriti named BJP Secys; Raje is new Gen SecyI-T dept to probe source of Maya's multi-crore garland
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    Central PSUs will soon have to earmark up to 5 pct of net profit

    for social sector projects.

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    coming months

    SEC charges Indo-American with fraudFIIs add Rs 85k cr in equity market in Apr-Dec'No obstacles seen to Zain-Bharti deal'Vedanta violating norms: Govt panel
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    Govt. to create a National Population Register!Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken on Tuesday informed that the Government has decided to create a National Population Register (NPR) in the country along with Houselisting and Housing Census 2010. For the NPR, details on specific characteristics of each individual shall be collected along with photographs and finger biometrics of all those who are 15 years of age and above.

    Stop terrorism or we will deal with you, India warns Pakistan!

    Muslims & Christians rally for govt job quota!
     
    Jairam Ramesh hopeful of early passage of National Green Tribunal!
     
    Rs.5 crore garland for Mayawati?
     
    Indo-US civil nuclear deal is proceeding smoothly, Nirupama Rao , Indian Foreign Secretary declares in United States of America while her Government in India retreated to present the Nuclear Damage Liability Bill in the Parliament fearing Defeat in the Face of United Opposition Left as well as NDA gearing for all out Battle.The Bill is all about to limit the liability to meagre Rs. Three Hundred Crore and the time limit to Ten years as to doors and windows of Judiciary have to be closed for direct Compensation Claims. It is Mandatory to Opertaionalise the Indo US Nuclear deal.

     

    Meanwhile, at Home in India,Police today raised doubts over a CISF constable''s claim that there had been exchange of fire between him and two persons near ISRO''s Byalalu facility and said there were no bullet marks on the boundary walls nor any empty cartridge was found at the spot. "There are no signs of any firing from outside," ADGP (law and Order) A R Infant told reporters.
     
     one of the measures to strengthen coastal security, creation of NPR for the 3331 coastal villages in 9 Maritime States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal and 4 Union Territories (UTs) of Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry has been undertaken during 2009-10, Mr. Maken informed.
     
    The lists of coastal villages have been finalized in consultation with the respective States/UTs.
     
    The scheme also envisages identity cards to be given to all the usual residents of these villages who are 18 years of age and above.
     

    The field work of direct data collection is in progress and biographic details of more than 8.9 million persons and biometric details of more than 35 lakh have been collected, the reply revealed

     

    "On the face of it, it does not appear to be a terror attack," he said, adding it was too early to say whether it was a terror attack. Infant said the CISF constable Jadhav who was on duty at the main gate, claimed he saw two persons moving around in a suspicious manner in khakhi uniform at 3.20 am.

     

    He said Jadhav had claimed the duo opened fire towards ISRO main gate, after which he retaliated and fired eight rounds. Two other CISF personnel on duty were not at the spot during the alleged firing and came there later.

     

    "Only six cartridges out of the eight rounds claimed to have been fired by Jadav were found while no empties were traced outside the compound," Infant said.


     Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has said that the implementation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal is "proceeding smoothly and satisfactorily".
     

    Rao, who is on a six-day official visit to Washington, addressed the meeting of USA-India High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) meeting, hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce.

     

    "The implementation of civil nuclear deal is proceeding smoothly and satisfactorily that is first point I would like to make and as far the introduction of civil nuclear liability bill in Parliament is concerned it is ready for introduction and in all likelihood it will be introduced after recess," said Rao.
     
    She also cautioned the international community that integration process in Afghanistan should only include the forces (Taliban) that have abandoned the path of violence and abide by the values of democracy.
     
    "We believe that any integration process should include only those who abjure violence, give up arm struggle, terrorism and are willing to abide by the values of democracy, pluralism and human rights," she said.
     
    "There is every risk otherwise that Taliban would resurrect themselves as they have in the past when we think that they have been defeated or we are rid-off their hardcore elements," added Rao," she added.
     
    Seven Indians, including three Army officers, were killed and nine injured in the attack in Afghanistan on February 26.
     
     India has not abandoned the 'path of dialogue' but possesses the capacity 'to deal effectively with those that pursue destructive agendas' against the country, India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in a major address here Monday.

    Despite the provocations we have faced constantly from terrorists whose linkages we have traced back to Pakistani soil, we have not abandoned the path of dialogue,' Rao said in an address Monday at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, a renowned Washington think tank.

     

    Prefacing her remarks about Pakistan in more general terms Rao said like the US administration, 'India, too, is concerned at the terror infrastructure that has been allowed to be established, take root and be used as an instrument of state policy in our immediate neighbourhood.'

     

    'Our heartland, our cities and our people, are exposed to the threat of terrorism in a constant and almost unremitting way in a manner that the United States well understands, given the similar threats that are directed against the American people,' she said.

     

    India's approach has been to deal with the challenge of terrorism with restraint, Rao said. 'However, our restraint should not be confused with weakness or unwillingness to act against those that seek to harm our people, create insecurity, and hamper our developmental goals,' she said.

     

    'We are a strong country and we possess the capacity to deal effectively with those that pursue destructive agendas against India and its people,' Rao warned.

    'Despite the brazen and malignant nature of the threats we face, India has made several genuine efforts to restore trust and confidence,' she said.

     

    'We have, time and again, made genuine attempts to address outstanding issues, most importantly, the issue of terrorism through dialogue with Pakistan,' Rao said referring to her recent meeting with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir as the latest such move.

     

    At this meeting 'India's approach was to focus on our concerns regarding terrorism, pending humanitarian issues, and some bilateral visits that have been planned or spoken of, but have not taken place,' she said.

     

    'But it continues to be our conviction that for this dialogue to really make progress, Pakistan should take meaningful steps to address our concerns on terrorism, and cease the encouragement of terrorism targeted against India.'

    Recalling that India had resumed its Composite Dialogue with Islamabad after the then Pakistani leadership made such an assurance in January 2004, Rao noted: 'Today, Pakistan claims that it is in no position to give us such a guarantee that terrorism can be controlled by its authorities.'

     

    'In such a situation, the people of India who are already bitterly affected by the series of terrorist attacks directed against them, can hardly be expected to support the resumption of a full-blown Composite Dialogue with Pakistan,' she said.

     

    Referring to US military aid to Pakistan Rao said, it is 'also important that there are strict accountability criteria that apply to defence assistance rendered to Pakistan for operations against terrorists and insurgents on the border with Afghanistan'.

     

    India's past experience regarding such assistance has taught it to be vigilant to the possibility of it being used for purposes that generate tension and hostile actions against India, she said.

     

    India does 'not have aggressive designs against Pakistan and we want it to be a stable and prosperous country,' Rao said. 'But we will be vigilant about our security. That is our sovereign right,' she asserted.

     

    Jairam Ramesh hopeful of early passage of National Green Tribunal
     Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday expressed the hope that the Bill, which provides provisions for the establishment of the National Green Tribunal, would be passed by the Parliament soon.

    The Government had proposed to set up a National Green Tribunal for speedy and effective disposal of cases relating to environmental issues.

    The National Green Tribunal Bill 2009 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

    "I am hoping that in the next three to four months, after Parliament approves today in the Lok Sabha and tomorrow hopefully in the Rajya Sabha, we will have the structure of the National Green Tribunal will be in place and we will have this extensive network of judicial mechanism in order to ensure compliance and implementation of environment rules and regulations," Ramesh said, while speaking at the International Conference on Climate Change in New Delhi.

    Further, Ramesh said that steps to set up a National Environment Protection Agency modelled on the US Environment Protection Agency are underway.

    "We are taking steps to establish a National Environment Protection Authority and the NEPA, the National Environment Protection Agency, would be the executive counterpoint to the National Green Tribunal, which is really a judicial organ," he said.

    "The National Environment Protection Agency is broadly - I stressed the word 'broadly' because systems are different - National Environment Protection Agency is broadly modelled according to the US Environment Protection Agency, and the main mandate of NEPA would be to ensure compliance, would be to ensure that the standards and stipulation under which we grant environmental approvals and environmental clearances are actually being adhered to," Ramesh added.

    The National Green Tribunal would act as a check on industrial pollution, and allow aggrieved persons to approach the tribunal to claim civil damages for non-implementation of environmental laws.

     

    Rs.5 crore garland for Mayawati?
    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was Monday presented a giant garland of currency notes by her fans from Karnataka. Though the exact value of the garland is not known, onlookers put it in the region of a whopping Rs.5 crore!

    In fact, no one noticed the Rs.1,000 currency notes with which the giant garland was created until these were identified by a local photographer when he zoomed in.

    Earlier, while Mayawati was being garlanded, mediapersons could make out from a distance that it was not a run-of-the-mill garland. But beholders perceived it as one made of some exquisite imported flowers.

    However, the mystery was unravelled no sooner than the still pictures were promptly lifted and beamed by TV channels.

    Those present on the dais, however, feigned ignorance about the unique garland in which some 50,000 currency notes of Rs.1,000 each were believed to have been used.

    The garland was specially crafted and brought by Mayawati's party functionaries all the way from Bangalore for Monday's mega rally organised by her to mark the Bahujan Samaj Party's silver jubilee celebrations, which coincided with the 76th birth anniversary of party founder and her political mentor Kanshi Ram.

    Indo Asian News Service

    LeT has 20 terror targets in India: US lawmaker

    Mon, Mar 15 10:36 AM

    Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba has identified as many as 320 targets across the globe, 20 of which are in India, a top US lawmaker has said.

    "In the wake of the (26/11) Mumbai attack, investigators uncovered in controller records and e-mail accounts a list of 320 locations worldwide deemed by the LeT as possible targets for attack. Only 20 of the targets were located within India," Congressman Gary Ackerman said before a Congressional hearing last week.

    "The LeT has been attacking US forces in Afghanistan almost from day one and their forces are present throughout Afghanistan. The LeT has been slaughtering Indians by the score for decades. The LeT has put the world on notice that they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it worldwide," he said.

    "This group of savages needs to be crushed. Not starting in a month, not in a year, not when the situation stabilises in Afghanistan, not when things are under control in Pakistan, now, today and everyday going forward. We're not doing it, and we're not effectively leading a global effort to do it. And we are going to regret this mistake. We're going to regret it bitterly," Ackerman said.

    Noting that it would be unfair and wrong to suggest that the LeT problem is strictly confined to Pakistan and Middle East, he said, adding in fact, one of the key facilitators of the Mumbai attack was an American of Pakistani extraction, referring to David Coleman Headley.

    "Unfortunately, the LeT enjoys a substantial global network stretching from the Philippines to the United Kingdom," Ackerman said.

    According to Ackerman, though after 9/11, Pakistan officially banned the LeT, the reality is that like other Islamist terrorist groups, LeT maintains a clear public presence and a vast recruiting network by providing extremely useful charitable and social services to millions of impoverished people in that country.

    "Public estimates suggest LeT operates some 2,000 offices in towns and villages throughout Pakistan, as well as maintaining ties with the Pakistani military. There is, in fact, no reason to doubt that Pakistan's military is likely paying compensation to the families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks. These are our allies in the war on terror," he said.

    "Operational funding for the LeT comes from charitable fundraising amongst the general population in Pakistan, but also depends heavily upon contributions by Pakistani businessmen living abroad and other wealthy individuals from the Persian Gulf. Let us note too, these states are also our allies in the war on terror," Ackerman said.

    Agencies
     
    Muslims & Christians rally for govt job quota

    Tue, Mar 16 03:06 PM

    Thousands of Muslims and Christians took to the streets in the Capital on Monday, demanding quota in government jobs. Warning the UPA government, the protesters thronged Parliament Street and sought the implementation of the Ranganath Misra committee report, which recommended reservation for the two communities.

    Muslim and Christian organisations, including the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, the National Council of Dalit Christians, the Jamia Teachers' Association and the Popular Front of India, held three different rallies. The gatherings were addressed by Islam and Christian clerics, along with leaders of various political parties.

    The leaders urged the Centre to implement the Misra report, which according to them, would end the miseries of "backward" Muslims and Christians. "We demand Scheduled Caste (SC) status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. We are against reservation on the basis of religion. But this will fight discriminatory policies of the UPA government," leader of Pasmanda Muslims and Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar Ansari said.

    Trying to connect the issue of women's reservation with that of minorities, the Muslim leaders said quota for the latter was also a "crucial issue". MPs from the SP, JD(U), CPM and the Trinamool Congress addressed the gatherings. CPM leader Brinda Karat said her party backed implementation of Misra panel's report. "West Bengal has already implemented reservation. The report should be discussed in Parliament. The Centre should start measures for the implementation of the report's recommendations," she said.

    JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, who addressed two rallies, said the UPA government had double standards on women's reservation and minority reservation.

    "The women's Bill is against the interests of minorities, but the government is in a hurry to pass it in Parliament. The demand for reservation for Muslims and Christians is very old, but the Centre has not moved an inch on the issue," Yadav said.

    Deputy minister of tourism and Trinamool Congress leader Sultan Ahmed, who also attended two rallies, said his party will oppose the women's Bill in its present form. He asked the UPA leadership to model Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments in providing quota for Muslims. Interestingly, there were only a handful of women in all the rallies.

    "Muslims are not asking for any favour. We are demanding a constitutional right," read placards carried by the rallyists.

    They also asked when the Sachar committee had proved that Muslims were most backward, why were they denied reservation? Popular Front of India chairman E. M. Abdul Rahiman said the Misra commission had prescribed the remedy for Muslim backwardness by recommending 10 per cent reservation for all Muslims in government services.

    "If the (Indo-US) nuclear deal can be signed without the consent of Parliament, why is the Prime Minister seeking a national consensus on Muslim reservation? How can a secular government wait for consent from the communal BJP and its allies?" he said, adding that the Congress manifesto had promised reservation for them.

    Students and teachers of the Jamia Millia Islamia, a central university, also held protest marches demanding minority status for their institution.

    The Misra panel had recommended minority status for the university. "At least 50 per cent seats in all courses of Jamia should be reserved for students belonging to the under-privileged Muslim community," they demanded. "We are trying to exert maximum pressure on the Centre," convenor of the National Council of Dalit Christians V. J. George said.

    Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. MTNPL. All rights reserved.

    A.M.Jigeesh

    Benazir violated 'deal' between us : Musharraf

    Tue, Mar 16 06:50 PM

    Washington, Mar.16 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has revealed that he and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had entered a deal, according to which, all cases against her were to be dropped in return for which she had agreed to not to return to Pakistan before the elections.

    Talking to reporters after addressing a gathering of 300 Pakistani Americans in Seattle, Musharraf said it was also decided that the restriction on becoming the Prime Minister for the third term would also be withdrawn, but Bhutto violated the deal and returned to Pakistan ahead of the elections in 2007.

    "But she returned to Pakistan before elections and it was a violation of what we had agreed," The News quoted Musharraf, as saying.

    When asked to comment on the possible role of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf said: "A person who I call a closet Taliban. I feel he'll be a bigger disaster. And also, he has a tendency of can't function with anyone."

    Later, talking to an audience of hundreds of people, largely Pakistani Americans, in Bellevue, Musharraf said the Taliban's brand of Islamic extremism poses a serious threat to the nation.

    "We need to ask ourselves, do we or don't we want a Taliban and Al Qaeda culture in Pakistan ... because every action then flows from that decision," Musharraf said.

    Responding to a question, the former general said he would return to Pakistan only when he garners enough people support.

    Reports regarding Musharraf, who is currently living in London on an 'unannounced' exile, coming back to Pakistan have been doing the rounds for the past year or so with the former general saying he would return if the country wants him to do so.

    Musharraf, however, has not set a date for his return to Pakistan.

    Some believe that he may never come back as he fears being prosecuted for imposing emergency in the state through unconstitutional steps in 2007. (ANI)


    India Today
    Freeze frame in Kashmir

    Tue, Mar 16 07:36 PM

    I love beginnings, whether it is a book, movie or a trip. They are so full of promise, and so much more fun than endings. My trip to Kashmir also begins on a wonderful note, but this time I love the ending too. But let's leave that for later.

    People back home advise me to reach the airport early to take the window seat, for what I would see would be a view to remember. I'm glad I listened to them. Just a few minutes after leaving Delhi I spot a line of white in the horizon. Confusing the Pir Panjal range with clouds I go on to read my book. But a stray glance outside, and I realise we are already over the grand snow-covered mountains. From top the snow seems absolutely clear, clean and whiter than froth. I'm not going to forget this spectacular sight for a lifetime.

    This isn't my first visit to Kashmir, but this time I'm looking forward to spending a White Christmas in Gulmarg. Before I know it we are whizzing across the highway that would take us to our destination. At first it is strange to see that the winter has robbed the tall pines of all their clothes. The bare branches seem as if they are waiting for someone to come and dress them up and make them look appealing. This is not the kind of Kashmir I had visited a decade ago. Yet it has a stark beauty. It seems nothing can ever take away its charm.

    Barely ten minutes after the hill drive I catch a glimpse of the snow and soon all I can see around me are white mountains. I'm as excited as a child on seeing his favourite toy. Gulmarg makes the prettiest of all pictures with all the meadows covered with a two-feet thick blanket of snow. Getting used to the cold is a tough task, but the hot saffron-flavoured kahwa served at the Royal Park Hotel helps me warm up slightly.

    That night is my tryst with the bone-chilling winds of Gulmarg. I'm at the ice skating rink for the inauguration of the Kashmir Snow Festival. The line-up for the evening is, quite obviously, skating and night skiing. I watch in awe as skaters glide effortlessly on ice while I can't even think of standing straight without wondering if I'm getting frostbite. I dig deeper into my pockets, searching for warmth. The skaters, boys of all age groups, sway to wonderful songs. The only thing that keeps me going, besides the kahwa of course, is thinking about my cosy room back at the hotel.

    Before heading back, however, I have one more thing to do-go and watch skiers slide down the slope. Night skiing has been introduced recently in Gulmarg-the only place in the country to do so. The sight of people skiing gracefully down white slopes under the light of a few lampposts is splendid. For a city bird like me, skiing is a challenging task in the day itself, so I could only imagine how tough it would be at night. These thrilling events make my Christmas Eve memorable.

    Christmas mornings are always special, but this one is more so. It's my first White Christmas and I'm in one of the most stunning places in the country. The sun is out in all its glory as I make my way to Gulmarg Golf Club, the highest in the country, where the official launch of the snow festival is to take place.

    The day is packed with sweet surprises. As soon as I reach there I spot three snowmen. This is the first time I'm seeing one, and I rush to take pictures. No matter what age you are, a snowman will always delight you. I make my way to a group huddled around a sculpture, and when I reach there I just stop and stare in amazement. It is a snow sculpture of Santa Claus. What more can I ask for on Christmas?

    Plenty, it seems. Instead of Santa's sledge there is a snow scooter and I hop on for a ride-a ride to remember. It's not the easiest thing to do, but I clutch onto the driver and we zoom ahead climbing the slope to reach the top. Getting up is no big deal but getting down seems like a deadly task. As we come down, gaining speed every second I scream at the thought that I may fall down. But then I calm myself and close my eyes, letting the driver do his task. As the ice cold wind kisses my cheek, I feel the speed and adrenalin rush even though I'm a pillion rider. Being ahead would have an altogether different experience.

    But this isn't the most thrilling part of the festival. I watch as people play unique games like snow baseball and rugby. The snow cycling competition, with special mountain cycles, is equally enthralling.

    At lunch my craving of tucking into Kashmiri cuisine is fulfilled and I relish the mouth-watering gushtaba and rista. Gushtaba is pounded meat balls dipped in subtly flavoured yogurt. Rista is small lamb balls in a spicy sauce. Both the dishes are so soft that they just melt in the mouth.

    Going on the gondola is next in line. This is the main attraction for tourists coming to Gulmarg and for obvious reasons-it is one of the highest gondola rides in the world. The gondola terrain is divided into two sections. The first one is till Kongdoor, but the second section till Apharwat peak, which opened last year, takes you to the dizzying height of 13,800 ft. Luckily it is a clear day and I can see right up to the mighty Pir Panjal range, with the imposing Nanga Parwat standing grandly in front.

    Getting off at Apharwat, it seems as if the world has lost all colours besides the blue of the sky and the white on the peaks. The clear, crisp, chilly air makes me shiver. But it is a sight to behold. With the sky almost within touching distance, the peaks in the backdrop and nothing but whiteness all around I truly believe that I'm in paradise. Many skiers come up till Apharwat and sashay down the slopes all the way to Gulmarg, and on my way down I spot a couple of them joyfully on their way.

    Early mornings in Gulmarg are a sight to behold, and since it is my last morning I decide to take a walk till the local market. At 8.30a.m. the shops are just opening and the locals are busy keeping themselves warm by sipping piping hot tea and munching on bread. None of them take their hands out of the long phirans. One of them is after me to go for sledging, promising a good rate, but I escape saying I have to head back.

    I make my way to Prince Vaishno Dhaba yearning for my morning cuppa. While the shop owner is preparing the tea I get talking to him and he shares his tales of woe and wonder. The conversation ranges from terrorism to tourism. As I sip ginger tea I realise how much the people value their land. I'm about to pay him, but he refuses to take money for it, saying "friendship mein chai pila di madam." I feel goosebumpy with this experience.

    On the way back to the hotel, I hear music on the road. Some Kashmiri folk singers break out in random dancing on the street and ask me to join in, but I refuse. I stand there and stare at them and then became a little envious. Envious of the fact that they stay here, and envious because they are carefree (at least they seemed to be). But shaking off these negative emotions, I bid farewell to this glorious place and head to Srinagar

    After a typical day of sightseeing in Srinagar-Nishat Bagh, Jama Masjid and Hazratbal shrine-it is time for a shikara ride on Dal Lake. The sun is about to retire for the day, but does its usual play with colours before going. The shikaras and the lake look gorgeous bathed in the orange glow. To me Srinagar has never looked prettier than it does on my last evening there.

    They say everything ends but there are always new beginnings, and I truly believe that. My trip to Kashmir is ending, but it leaves me with a desire and determination of coming back soon to experience another fascinating season in paradise, when the mountains will turn a lush green. I'm returning home with a million memories, and the hope of a new beginning.

    Pallavi Pasricha
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    Mystery of missing Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng deepens

    By Michael Bristow
    BBC News, Beijing
    border=0
    Gao Zhisheng ( file photo)
    Lawyer Gao Zhisheng disappeared more than a year ago

    The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Chinese rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng continues following comments from China's foreign minister.

    Yang Jiechi said the well-known lawyer had been sentenced after being charged with subverting state power.

    But it was not immediately clear whether that referred to an old charge, or a new one brought against Mr Gao.

    There has been growing international concern about the activist, who disappeared more than a year ago.

    Mr Yang was speaking at a news conference in Beijing, held with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is currently visiting China.

    No clarification

    Mr Yang said: "Gao Zhisheng has been sentenced on the charge of subverting state power."

    The Chinese foreign minister denied a suggestion that Mr Gao had been tortured, saying that his rights had been protected.

    border=0
    border=0 We are willing to have human rights dialogue with the UK and other countries on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs border=0
    Yang Jiechi
    Chinese Foreign Minister
    border=0

    He said he hoped foreigners would respect China's judicial system.

    "We are willing to have human rights dialogue with the UK and other countries on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs," Mr Yang added.

    Mr Miliband said that he had raised the lawyer's case with the Chinese government.

    Mr Gao was given a three-year prison sentence - suspended for five years - for inciting subversion in 2006, but Mr Yang's comment did not make it clear if new charges had since been brought.

    After Mr Yang spoke, the foreign ministry declined to clarify the comments.

    Rare case

    Mr Gao went missing at the beginning of last year. He was believed to be in police custody, but no-one knows for sure.

    His case is unusual because there has been little official word on what has happened to him - apart from several contradictory comments from Chinese officials.

    A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said earlier this year that Mr Gao was "where he should be".

    Last month, China's embassy in Washington told a US-based human rights group, the Dui Hua Foundation, said Mr Gao was working in Urumqi, a city in the far west of the country.

    The foreign minister's comments look set to deepen the speculation surrounding Gao Zhisheng.
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