| 11/03/2010 | 40 years for kidnappers |
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Four men from Leeds have been sentenced to a combined total of over 40 years in jail after the kidnap and torture of a 16-year-old man.
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| 11/03/2010 | Kidnapped boy is still missing in Pakistan |
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Kidnapped five-year-old Sahil Saeed has not been found, despite earlier reports from Pakistan claiming he had been recovered safely. The Punjabi Law Minister told reporters this morning that Sahil, from Shaw in Oldham, was found safe yesterday. But detectives in the area say that he has not yet been found and that the search was continuing. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Eleven arrests in ‘crash for cash’ investigation |
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Police have today arrested 11 people in connection with an investigation into so called ‘crash for cash’ insurance fraud. The 10 men and one woman were arrested when officers visited a number of addresses in the Lancashire and Greater Manchester areas this morning. 
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| 10/03/2010 | United fans 'conned in cup final ticket scam' |
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A conman who was jailed for selling big-match football tickets that didn’t exist has been accused of cheating United supporters out of hundreds of pounds in a new scam. Amrik Gill, 23, from Chorlton, was locked up and ordered to pay thousands in compensation after appearing in court THREE times last year for conning fans over the internet. Now United supporters desperate for tickets for the Reds’ Carling Cup Final against Aston Villa claim they were ripped off by Gill. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Shyam Benegal celebrated at film festival |
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One of India’s leading filmmakers, Shyam Benegal, is in the UK for a series of events exploring his vast career and celebrating his achievements in Indian cinema. As part of the Tongues on Fire 12th Asian Film Festival, the director is attending a range of functions across London, including a BAFTA interview, a director’s workshop at the University of Westminster, and a talk on women in films at the Nehru Centre. 
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| 08/03/2010 | From tea-boy to Bollywood star - Abhishek Bachchan on his climb to fame |
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In a 36 hour visit to the UK, Abhishek Bachchan gave London audiences an insight into his life and work at the 12th London Asian Film Festival. The actor opened the ten day series of events with a BAFTA interview and gala dinner on Friday, wrapping his jam-packed visit with an Actor’s Masterclass at a West End cinema on Saturday, before flying home. 
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| 03/03/2010 | Akshay Kumar kickstarts shoot for Tees Maar Khan |
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Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and Bollywood’s most lovable director, Farah Khan have just kick-started their already-hyped new venture Tees Maar Khan at Mumbai's Film City. Akshay is currently shooting his introductory shot in the film - a major action comedy scene on a huge jumbo jet constructed by set director, Sabu Cyril. 
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| 03/03/2010 | Hrithik Roshan on the colours of love |
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On the occasion of Holi, Hrithik Roshan speaks up on his colourful life and his upcoming movie Kites, which stars Brazilian actress Barbara Mori and the beautiful Kangana Ranaut in a never-seen-before role. 
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| 08/03/2010 | 12th London Asian Film Festival attracts Bollywood stars |
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Bollywood fans in the UK will get the chance to interact with some of the biggest names in the Hindi film industry at the Tongues on Fire 12th London Asian Film Festival (5-14 March 2010). Leading Bollywood figures are scheduled to attend including Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Jaya Bachchan, Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore. 
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| 01/03/2010 | Abhay Deol raring to go with Road, Movie |
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One of the big winners at the weekend Filmfare awards was Abhay Deol starrer Dev D, which bagged a handful of statuettes.
Now the poster boy of offbeat Hindi cinema is back with his new release, Indo-American production Road, Movie. 
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| 24/02/2010 | Search is on for the next Rishi Rich Project band members |
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Music producer Rishi Rich has launched the search for the next Rishi Rich Project group members. After successfully putting together Juggy D and Jay Sean as part of the original chart topping Rishi Rich Project, he is now looking for the stars of the future. 
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| 22/02/2010 | Official Asian download chart announced |
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The BBC Asian Network has announced that it will broadcast the world’s first official Asian download chart. Presented by Bobby Friction, the three hour extended show is set to launch on Saturday 27 March from 3pm – 6pm. 
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| 22/02/2010 | Anurag Basu rubbishes rumours that Rajkumar Hirani is to edit Kites |
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Director Anurag Basu has rubbished reports that producer Rakesh Roshan wanted 3 Idiots helmer Rajkumar Hirani to edit his film Kites. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Shahid Malik meets Somalian president |
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Communities Minister Shahid Malik met with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The President is visiting the UK as a guest of the government. He met with Mr Malik at the Houses of Parliament where the minister underlined the UK’s support for Somalia. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Thousands in call to free kidnapped Sahil |
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Thousands of people across the country have joined internet campaigns demanding the release of Oldham youngster Sahil Saeed. The five-year-old was snatched by armed robbers from his grandmother’s house in Pakistan on the last day of a two-week family holiday with his father. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Kidnapped boy's father returns from Pakistan |
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The father of a five-year-old British boy held captive in Pakistan has returned to the UK. Sahil Saeed, from Shaw, Oldham, was grabbed by gun and grenade-wielding raiders from his grandmother’s house on Thursday. 
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| 10/03/2010 | Teen charged for sexual offences |
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A man has been charged following an investigation into allegations of sexual grooming.
Junaid Bhuta, aged 18 of Manchester Road, Frenchwood, is charged with grooming a girl under the age of 16, rape of a girl under 13, and two counts of sexual activity with a girl under 13. |
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| 10/03/2010 | Top employee award for Faruk |
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Bolton at Home employee Faruk Adam is celebrating after scooping the best new employee award at the organisation’s annual Employee Awards. A special presentation took place at Mere Hall where employees were rewarded for their outstanding commitment and contributions to fellow employees, customers and the wider community, over the last 12 months. 
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| 09/03/2010 | Recognition for business champion Razia |
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An entrepreneur from Nelson has been recognised for her work encouraging others to start businesses. Razia Ahmed, who runs Aquarius Driving School, was among the Business Champions presented with certificates at an event at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor ground. They also discussed other ways to get more people into business. 
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| 09/03/2010 | £1m counterfeit cash gang jailed |
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A man who circulated fake cash around Hyndburn has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison. Yasin Patel was part of a gang that attempted to produce more than £1M of counterfeit coins and notes. 
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| 11/03/2010 | UK explains Miliband’s actions |
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A visiting British official today explained to Sri Lanka that UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s recent participation at the Global Tamil Forum conference in London was aimed at encouraging them to support efforts to achieve peace in Sri Lanka.
Sir Peter Ricketts, the Permanent Under-Secretary (PUS) of the British Foreign Office, at a meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama today had said that during his speech the Foreign Secretary had urged GTF members to maintain their commitment to peaceful methods and to support domestic attempts within Sri Lanka to achieve a political solution.
"Sir Peter Ricketts explained that Foreign and Commonwealth Office ministers and officials regularly engage with expatriate Sri Lankans from all communities to encourage them to support peaceful efforts to achieve peace in Sri Lanka," the Foreign Ministry said.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2265-uk-explains-milibands-actions.html
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| 11/03/2010 | Lankan team to head for EU |
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A Sri Lankan delegation will head to Brussels next week for talks with the European Union (EU) on the GSP plus trade concession and other issues, Minister G.L Pieris told reporters today.
Those included in the delegation are Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe, Justice Secretary Suhada Gamlath and Attorney General (AG) Mohan Peiris (PC).
The EU last month decided to withdraw GSP for Sri Lanka but has given Sri Lanka time to negotiate and attempt to retain the facility.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2257-lankan-team-to-head-for-eu.html
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| 11/03/2010 | TMVP demands 13th amendment |
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The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) has demanded the implementation of the 13th amendment soon after the General Elections and has also rejected the Oslo Declaration, party officials said today.
TMVP Spokesperson Azath Maulana told Daily Mirror online that the party’s main election policy mentioned in its manifesto was the implementation of the 13th Amendment and the TMVP’s rejection of the Oslo Declaration.
Maulana quoted Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakantha as stating that he would hold discussions with the government soon, to implement the 13th amendment soon after the polls.
"We have already informed India the importance of implementing the 13th amendment. India has also agreed with us and said they will support us," Mr. Maulana said.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2264-tmvp-demands-for-13th-amendment.html
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| 11/03/2010 | Lanka unmoved by LTTE lobbyists |
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The government says senior officials will continue with their overseas visits as scheduled despite the threat posed by some LTTE lobbyists in the west. Government Defence Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella told Daily Mirror online that despite the LTTE being defeated militarily by the army, the LTTE diaspora continued to function overseas, posing a threat to the government ministers.
However Rambukwella said that despite such threats, the government would continue their official visits overseas in order to strengthen its international ties.
"We had a threat even when the LTTE was active in the country. However they were wiped out by the army. We will not back out from traveling overseas just because of the LTTE lobbyists," Rambukwella said.
www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2268-lanka-undeterred-by-tamil-diaspora.html
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| 11/03/2010 | JD(U) rift deeper than meets the eye |
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Differences within the Janata Dal (United) that erupted over support to the Women’s Reservation Bill in its present form seem to be deeper than what meets the eye, notwithstanding denials of split by both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and party chief Sharad Yadav.
Both admitted the prevalence of differences over the issue of reservation for women but were quick to add that these were minor and would be sorted out in due course of time.
Mr. Yadav and Mr. Kumar were said to have held a telephonic talk over the diverging stands of party MPs in a bid to iron out their differences. Mr. Kumar also talked to Ranjan Yadav, MP, and Shivanand Tiwari, Rajya Sabha member, explaining his position.
Much as he told journalists in Patna, Mr. Kumar, sources said, assured the two MPs that he had no plan to split the party, that he had deliberately denied in a rather vague manner media speculation to this effect and that he ignored such reports.
www.hindu.com/2010/03/11/stories/2010031164001200.htm
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| 11/03/2010 | Apologise and return: Govt tells suspended MPs |
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal Wednesday indicated that the government could bring a motion to revoke suspension of seven Rajya Sabha members if they expressed regret over their behaviour to Chairman Hamid Ansari.
"It (the suspension) was a well-considered action as they (the members) had insulted dignity of the House. The minimum thing is to go the Chairman," Bansal told reporters here. He said the members should at least realise their mistake.
The minister said the House had not taken action against the members with any sense of elation and it was "a bitter medicine".
He indicated that the government would be willing to consider the demand of Opposition for revoking the suspension of the members if they apologised to the Chairman.
ibnlive.in.com/news/apologise-and-return-govt-tells-suspended-mps/111342-37.html
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| 11/03/2010 | Advani does a Modi, calls for compulsory voting |
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Observing that voting percentage among the educated section was far lower than that in the lower rungs of society, senior BJP leader L K Advani has favoured compulsory voting as a remedial measure.
"If a survey is taken of the comparative percentage of voting in different sectors of the society, classified education wise, I have little doubt that voting percentage among the graduates, post graduates and those in the still higher categories, would be far, far lower than at the lower rungs of society," Advani says in his latest blog.
Arguing that such a situation is bound to affect the quality of Indian democracy, he said, this can be changed through the simple measure of compulsory voting.
"...I feel it can be (changed). One simple way is the innovative measure adopted by Narendra Bhai Modi - compulsory voting," he said.
www.indianexpress.com/news/advani-does-a-modi-calls-for-compulsory-voting/589206/
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| 11/03/2010 | Exiled journalists asked to return |
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Sri Lanka’s Attorney General Mohan Peiris has said he was prepared to offer protection to any of the nation’s journalists who return to the country from exile, the US based media rights group, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said
"Speaking for myself, and I’m fairly sure the government will back me up on this, there is no question that the government needs our journalists," Peiris has told a CPJ delegation. "They must come back and work with us and help set up the structures so that we can work together and we can respect each other. We must work with these institutions because we need them. We know if they stay outside and attack the government that is not useful."
When asked if the government would ensure their safety, Peries said, "Of course, if they come back, there must be assurance on our part that they won’t come to any harm."
http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/2277-exiled-journalists-asked-to-return.html
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| 11/03/2010 | At FS talks, Pak said call in Ministers next, India said no |
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Barely two weeks after India and Pakistan sought to break the ice through Foreign Secretary-level talks, it now emerges that the two sides hardly made any headway in the conversation with almost no meeting ground on any of the proposals put forward by either side.
It’s learnt that Pakistan came to the table with a “roadmap” leading to the resumption of composite dialogue which entailed an invitation for External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to visit Pakistan. But India was more keen on broadening the discussions at official levels and suggested a “technical meeting” to improve cross-LoC trade as a measure to show it was not skirting the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, sources said, conveyed that the three terror dossiers could have been handed over to the Pakistan High Commissioner and that his coming here should lead to a more substantive outcome. In this context, he extended the invitation for Krishna on behalf of the Pakistan Foreign Minister to visit Islamabad and suggested that Foreign Secretaries could meet a day before to finalise the agenda.
www.indianexpress.com/news/at-fs-talks-pak-said-call-in-ministers-next-india-said-no/589441/
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| 11/03/2010 | Cong-Lalu deal: No-trust move put on hold |
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Lalu Yadav has backed out of a no-trust motion against the UPA government. And, the Centre responded in backing Lalu in the disproportionate assets case in the Supreme Court. Is there a deal between Congress and Lalu?
The day after the women’s reservation bill got passed in Rajya Sabha, the desperate Yadav troika had raised the pitch further on the bill. They had even drafted a no-confidence motion against the UPA government and sought support from some known Congress baiters like Shiv Sena, to cobble together the required 50 Lok Sabha MPs to get the no-trust motion adopted.
Manohar Joshi, senior Shiv Sena Leader, said: "If a no-confidence motion is brought we will support." But the BJP had refused to support the Yadavs earlier, saying it’s too early for a no-trust motion.
ibnlive.in.com/news/conglalu-deal-notrust-move-put-on-hold/111347-37.html
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| 11/03/2010 | BJP’s Lok Sabha MPs split over women’s quota bill |
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The United Progressive Alliance Government secured Rajya Sabha’s endorsement on the historic Women’s Reservation Bill but its fate still seems uncertain.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which helped the Government push the Bill through the Rajya Sabha, is now facing revolt from some of its Lok Sabha MPs.
With some BJP Lok Sabha MPs not in favour of the Women’s Reservation Bill, the UPA Government is unlikely to introduce the Bill in the Lok Sabha before April 12, when the House returns from a three-week break.
The MPs have told BJP senior leaders that no whip should be issued to vote in favour of the Bill as it may be defied. The view that the BJP was trapped by the Congress-led UPA on the Women’s Reservation Bill, too, is gaining ground.
Sources say BJP leaders are upset with the Government over the manner in which marshals were used to evict the suspended Rajya Sabha members who sought to block the Bill.
The UPA needs the support of the BJP in Lok Sabha to garner a two-thirds majority for the Bill to be passed.
ibnlive.in.com/news/bjps-lok-sabha-mps-split-over-womens-quota-bill/111363-37.html
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| 11/03/2010 | Mollified Didi meets Sonia, but mum on LS plans |
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Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, a day after she stumped the government by getting her MPs to abstain from voting over the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
“We raised our concern regarding minorities and also the way the Bill was taken up in the Rajya Sabha. Soniaji gave us assurance that we would have a chance to discuss the whole issue before the Bill comes up in the Lok Sabha,” Mamata told reporters after the meeting at 10 Janpath.
However, it is still not clear what path the Trinamool would take when the Bill comes to the Lok Sabha. The party remains wary about voting on the same side as the CPM, though it doesn’t want to put further strain on its alliance with the Congress.
www.indianexpress.com/news/mollified-didi-meets-sonia-but-mum-on-ls-plans/589399/
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| 10/03/2010 | Why no quota for women in Rajya Sabha, asks Mamata |
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A day after her party boycotted voting on the women’s reservation bill, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asked why a third of the Rajya Sabha seats too should not be kept for women.
"Why there is no 33 percent reservation for women in the Rajya Sabha?" an upset Banerjee asked reporters.
The Trinamool Congress chief said that her party had "so many times" raised the issue of reservation for women in the Rajya Sabha.
Banerjee said her party supported the women’s bill in principle but would discuss the stand to be taken in the Lok Sabha when the bill comes up in the lower house. The Lok Sabha is tipped to pass the bill by March 16.
The historic women’s bill reserves a third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures.
"We were not informed," Banerjee insisted, when asked why her party abstained from voting Tuesday in the Rajya Sabha where the Trinamool has two MPs, Mukul Roy and Swapan Sadhan Bose.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/why-no-quota-for-women-in-rajya-sabha-asks-mamata/111333-37.html
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| 10/03/2010 | Moves to strengthen LTTE abroad - PM |
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Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka told Parliament yesterday that there were international forces unfavourable to us attempting to strengthen the LTTE terrorist organisation abroad.
They are assisted by certain local elements that wish to destabilize the Government and arrest the country’s rapid economic development drive, Prime Minister Wickramanayaka said.
The Prime Minister making his statement moving the motion to extend the State of Emergency by another one month, said certain elements attempting to strengthen the LTTE were arrested in Germany and another LTTE working abroad was arrested in Dehiwala.
"There were anti-Sri Lankan schemes in progress with the support of certain super powers in the world as well as certain other organisations."
The Prime Minister expressed his regret over the fact that there were groups in the country who were engaged in collecting facts and distorting them to support cooked up allegations put forward by anti national forces.
www.dailynews.lk/2010/03/10/pol01.asp
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| 10/03/2010 | Madhya Pradesh CM wants Gita in school curricula |
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First it was sun worship and yoga in government schools and now the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has made it a mission to introduce the Bhagavad Gita in school curricula.
“I had met swami Arganad and there this thought had come why not introduce the Bhagwad Gita as a moral science subject. I am very seriously contemplating on this,” said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Proponents call it an inspired plan. Chouhan critics call it yet another step by the BJP to saffronise schools.
"The Shivraj Singh led government wants to do everything that will annoy the minorities. That is their aim,” said Congress MLA Arif Aqueel.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madhya-pradesh-cm-wants-gita-in-school-curricula/111309-3.html?from=tn
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