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Relations haven't thawed,
says Israel deputy PM

What is India News Service, Saturday, 27 November 2004, 2000 hrs IST


Acknowledging some "political disagreements" with India, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he may raise Israeli concerns in his meetings with Indian leaders during his five-day visit to New Delhi next week.

"We have political disagreements with many of our friends... We don't demand from our friends total agreement on everything. We don't hesitate to voice our reservations on certain positions ... This applies equally to India," Olmert told reporters in Jerusalem.

Olmert is likely to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Minister for Trade and Industry Kamal Nath.

Downplaying any perceptible change in New Delhi's policy to Jerusalem, Olmert said, "We haven't felt it yet." "The relations between the two countries were established when the same party was in power in India and the current Prime Minister was then the Finance Minister... This government also wants to continue relations with us and we do not see any change," said Olmert, who will also extend an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel.

BJP the chosen one, says Advani: BJP president L K Advani on Friday said: "The party is really the chosen instrument of the Divine to take the country out of its present problems to lofty heights of all-round development."

PM to ensure easy access to Pak shrines: After paying obeisance at the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Saturday his government would explore all ways to ensure that Sikhs were able to travel freely on pilgrimage to the Sikh shrines in Pakistan.

Soren reinducted into cabinet: JMM leader Shibu Soren, who had to quit the Union Cabinet in the wake of a case against him in connection with the 1975 Chirudih massacre in Jamtara in Jharkhand, was on Saturday re-inducted into the Ministry.

3 Kashmir bus routes under study: India and Pakistan are considering three different routes across the divided Jammu and Kashmir for bus service to unite people of the region, Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq, Kashmir's spiritual leader, said on Friday.

Uma could return to BJP: On Friday, the first clear indications were given that fiery sanyasin Uma Bharati could return to the party's fold in the near future. The hints were given by none less than the BJP president L K Advani.

Ceasefire has brought sense of security in border villages: From the Line of Control here, we could see Indian jawans guarding a post just across a rivulet. They waved at us as we waved at them from this Pakistani outpost in “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” situated at an altitude of 3545 feet.

Centaur Hotel in darkness for 17 days: Centaur Hotel in the prime Juhu beach area in Mumbai has been in darkness for 17 days. Reason? Reliance Power has cut off electricity supply to the hotel for non-payment of bills amounting to Rs 1.10 crore.

2 Army officers sacked for faking encounter: A colonel was dismissed from service and a Major was slapped with five years' loss of service after a court martial found them guilty of faking an encounter with separatists in Assam.
 

States

Chamber ‘renaming’ deepens film crisis: A group of producers led by Parvathamma Rajkumar barged into the KFCC office and ‘renamed’ the film chamber in the State.

Bihar gets into poll mode: The state will witness a series of political rallies by LJP, CPI-ML (Liberation), BJP and Laloo Prasad Yadav to woo voters for the forthcoming polls.

Govt tells chief justice to review Punjab CJ’s transfer: Citing a 24-year-old policy, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj has raised an objection to the Supreme Court collegium’s decision to transfer Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court B K Roy to his home town Patna.

Krishna is M'rashtra Governor: Former Karnataka CM SM Krishna has replaced Mohammad Fazal, who completed his tenure on Friday.

Kids couldn't care less!: The infamous pornographic video involving two students was shot to gain 'popularity' among peers and 'have some fun'. Or so the popular perception seems to be among youngsters, most of whom seem to have access to it. If gossipmongers are to be believed, a CD of the film is even available at Palika Bazaar for Rs 40.
 
Neighbours

Troops to leave Wana: The Afghanistan armed forces on Friday announced withdrawal of troops and removal of check posts from all parts of the Wana subdivision.

Musharraf to raise Muslims' issues: President Pervez Musharraf said he would press for progress in key conflicts affecting Muslims as he left Friday for talks with Western leaders.

Karuna for India's mediation: Breakaway LTTE leader Karuna has said India should mediate in Lankan peace talks.

Nawaz in talks with Benazir: PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has suggested to PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto that their parties should sign a code of conduct aimed at starting a new democratic era in Pakistan.

View from abroad

Academics feel image correction needed: Academics in Moscow are scathing in their  attack on successive governments in India and Russia for their "shameful" neglect of what appears to be a "natural" partnership.




Overall

Israel deputy PM said relations hadn't thawed:  Ehud Olmert, coming to India next week, saw no difference in warmth after change of guard in India.

Jaya said she was treating seer well: In reply to Manmohan Singh's letter, she said the was being looked after propertly.

Karuna sought Indian mediation: The breakaway LTTE leader wanted India to help in bringing about peace in Lanka.