Union Budget 2013-14: What goes up, down

NEW DELHI: Sports utility vehicles, imported cars and motorcycles, high-end mobile phones, eating out at air-conditioned restaurants and cigarettes will become costlier with finance minister P Chidambaram deciding to impose higher taxes on these items. The FM also proposed to increase the duty free limit on gold to Rs 50,000 in case of male and Rs 100,000 in case of female.

Here is a look at what goes up and what goes down.

What goes up

Cigarettes

Cigars

Cheroots

High-end mobile phones

Imported luxury cars

High-end motor vehicles

Sports Utility Vehicles

Imported yatch and motorboats

Marbles for flooring

Set-top boxes

Dining in air conditioned restaurants

Silk clothes

Homes and flats

Parking fees

What goes down

Jewellery

Precious stones

Cotton garments

Branded apparels

Carpets

Textile floor

Agricultural testing procedures

Imported hazel nuts

Dehulled oat grain

Truck chasis

Sabudana

Ships and vessels

Cinema and films

Machinery for manufacturing of leather goods

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Budget 2013: Chidambaram walks tightrope, levies surcharge on super-rich

NEW DELHI: Resisting the temptation of election-year populism, the general Budget on Thursday offered no major tax sops but slapped a surcharge on the super-rich, raised duties on mobile phones, cigarettes and imported luxury vehicles and introduced TDS on property sale above Rs 50 lakh.

Presenting UPA-II's last full-fledged Budget ahead of net year's general elections to net in an additional Rs 18,000 crore, finance minister P Chidambaram did a tightrope walk balancing growth needs with fiscal prudence by stepping up expenditure in social sectors and cutting subsidies.

In a Budget that pegs fiscal deficit at 4.8 per cent of GDP, defence allocation has been stepped up by 14 per cent over the revised expenditure in the current year to Rs 2,03,672 crore in the next.

Without changing the basic slabs and rates in income tax rates, Chidambaram gave a benefit of Rs 2,000 to individual tax payers with taxable income of up to Rs 5 lakh, that will benefit 1.8 crore tax payers entailing a revenue sacrifice of Rs 3,600 crore.

First-time home buyers will get an additional deduction of interest of Rs 1 lakh for home loans above Rs 25 lakh and Rs 1.50 lakh for home loans up to Rs 25 lakh. This will be over and above the current Rs 1 lakh deduction allowed for self-occupation.

The much-talked about 'super-rich' tax was levied as a 10 per cent surcharge on "relatively prosperous" persons with an income over Rs 1 crore.

Similarly, on domestic corporates with taxable income of Rs 10 crore, the surcharge has been raised from 5 to 10 per cent. Foreign companies will pay an increased surcharge of 5 per cent, up from 2.

The finance minister proposed that the surcharges will be in existence for just a year, while continuing the 3 per cent education cess on all tax payers.

In a bid to eliminate tax evasion through under-valuation and under-reporting in property sale, the Budget proposes a TDS of one per cent on all transfers of immovable properties for a consideration above Rs 50 lakh. Agriculture land will however be exempted from this. While Securities Transaction Tax (STT) has been marginally reduced, the minister introduced a new Commodities Transaction Tax (CTT) on non-agricultural commodities futures.

In indirect taxes, the Budget does not make any change in the peak Customs and Excise Duties or Service Tax, but it sharply raised import duty on high-end luxury cars, motorcycles and yachts from 75 per cent to 100 per cent and excise duty on SUVs from 27 to 30 per cent.

The finance minister, like most of his predecessors, did not fail to touch smokers in raising resources. Cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and cheroots will attract an additional 18 per cent excise duty. Dining at air-conditioned restaurants will cost more as service tax has been extended such establishments which were earlier exempted if they did not serve liquor. Mobile costing above Rs 2,000 will attract a 6 per cent excise duty instead of 1 per cent currently.

Under the fresh excise duty proposals, marbles and silver manufactured from smelting zinc or lead while readymade garments, carpets and floor covering of coir and jute will become cheaper. Vocational courses in state-aided institutions and agriculture testing facilities have been exempted from service tax.

In a one-time amnesty scheme, 10 lakh service tax defaulters have been offered a voluntary compliance encouragement scheme under which penalty and interest will be waived for returning to the tax fold.

Aiming at higher growth rate for inclusive and sustainable development and revive manufacturing, Chidambaram hiked outlays for health, water and sanitation, SCs/STs and tribals and rural development.

While the direct tax proposals will bring in Rs 13,300 crore, those on indirect tax side will rake in Rs 4,700 crore.

Hoping to put behind a bad year on account of economic slowdown, Chidambaram said he has a confidence to be more ambitious in the coming year in pegging the total expenditure at Rs 16,65,297 crore and Plan expenditure of Rs 5,55,322 crore. Non-Plan expenditure is estimated at Rs 11,09,975 crore.

This is more than 29.4 per cent of the revised estimate in the current year.

"All flagship programmes have been fully and adequately funded. I dare say I have provided sufficient funds to each ministries or departments consistent with the capacity to spend the funds," he said in his Budget speech that lasted over 100 minutes.

However, during the current year the revised estimate for total expenditure was reduced to Rs 14,30,825 crore, down from Rs 14,90,925 crore.,

The fiscal deficit for the current year has been contained at 5.2 per cent and for the coming year it is estimated at 4.8 per cent. The current year estimate is less than previously predicted 5.3 per cent.

Chidambaram expressed optimism that 2016-17 the government would bring down the fiscal deficit to 3 per cent, the revenue deficit to 1.5 per cent of GDP and effective revenue deficit to zero. Unusually, the Budget does not make any economic growth rate prediction for the current as well as next fiscal.

Presenting his eighth budget, the first after coming back to finance ministry last year, Chidambaram brought down the subsidy for 2013-14 to Rs 2,31,084 crore from Rs 2,57,654 crore.

He raised the target from disinvestment proceeds to over Rs 55,000 crore from current year's revised estimate of about Rs 24,000 crore.

In a bid to revive manufacturing, the finance minister announced the grant of investment allowance at the rate of 15 per cent to manufacturing companies that invest more than Rs 100 crore in plant and machinery between April 2013 and March 2015. This will be over and above currently allowable depreciation.

The Budget proposes three measures to promote household savings. The income limit for Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme for first time investors is being raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.

To wean away investments in securities like gold, instruments such as inflation indexed bonds will be introduced to protect savings from inflation.

In order to encourage infrastructure sector, Chidambaram said the government will allow certain companies to raise tax free bonds up to Rs 50,000 crore and encourage infrastructure debt fund.

The Budget has increase allocation for education to Rs 65,867 crore, on health and family welfare scheme to Rs 37,330 crore, backward region grant fund to Rs 11,500 crore, drinking water and sanitation Rs 15,260 crore and on Jawarhar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission to Rs 14,873 crore.

Budget 2013 > Budget news > Economic Survey

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Union Budget 2013-14: SUVs, imported cars, high-end mobiles, eating out to cost more

NEW DELHI: Sports utility vehicles, imported cars and motorcycles, high-end mobile phones, eating out at air-conditioned restaurants and cigarettes will become costlier with finance minister P Chidambaram deciding to impose higher taxes on these items.

On the other hand, there is good news for ladies as far as jewellery is concerned as they will be allowed to bring more duty free gold items provided they have stayed out of India for more than year.

Moreover, branded apparels will become cheaper as there will be zero excise duty on the item. Carpets and other textile floor coverings of coir or jute will also become less expensive as they have been fully exempted from excise duty.

In his Budget proposals for 2013-14, finance minister P Chidambaram said excise duty on Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) will be raised to 30 per cent from 27 per cent.

"SUVs occupy greater road and parking space and ought to bear a higher tax... However, the increase will not apply to SUVs registered as taxis," Chidambaram said.

Targeting the "affluent class in India that consumes imported luxury goods such as high end motor vehicles, motorcycles, yachts and similar vessels", he said: "I am sure they will not mind paying a little more."

Subsequently, basic customs duty on new passenger cars and other motor vehicles (high-end cars) costing more than $40,000 and/or engine capacity exceeding 3,000cc for petrol run vehicles and exceeding 2500 cc for diesel run vehicles has been hiked 100 per cent from 75 per cent earlier.

Likewise, duty on yachts and similar vessels has also been raised to 25 per cent from 10 per cent.

In a blow to mobile handset makers, excise duty on instruments priced above Rs 2,000 has been raised to six per cent but the concessional excise duty of one per cent and has been kept unchanged in the case of low priced phones.

Smokers will also have to shell out more for their puffs with Chidambaram training his eyes on them for more tax revenues.

"What does a finance minister turn to when he requires resources? The answer is cigarettes. I propose to increase the specific excise duty on cigarettes by about 18 per cent. Similar increases are proposed on cigars, cheroots and cigarillos," he said while delivering the Budget speech.

Eating out at air conditioned restaurants will also become more expensive with the finance minister bringing it under the purview of service tax. At present, service tax of 12 per cent does not apply to A/C restaurants that do not serve liquor.

"The distinction is artificial, and I propose to levy service tax on all air conditioned restaurants," he said.

Homes and flats with a carpet area of 2,000 sq ft or more or of a value of Rs 1 crore will also become more expensive as the rate of abatement for this class of buildings has been reduced from 75 per cent to 70 per cent.

Silk clothes made using imported raw materials will become expensive as customs duty on raw silk of all grades has been increased to 15 per cent from 5 per cent.

Set top boxes will also become costlier with basic customs duty on the item has been increased 10 per cent from from 5 per cent.

However, it is not gloomy all the way with Chidambaram leaving room for some cheer as well.

The duty free allowance on jewellery for an Indian passenger, who has been residing abroad for over one year or a person who is transferring residence to India, has been raised to Rs 1 lakh in case of a lady passenger from Rs 50,000 earlier.

For a male passenger, this has been raised to Rs 50,000 from Rs 10,000.

Moreover, precious stones will become cheaper as the basic customs duty has been cut to 2 per cent from 10 per cent on pre-forms of precious and semi-precious stones.

Branded apparels will also become cheaper as there will be no excise duty on the item. Last year, 10 per cent excise duty was levied on 30 per cent of the maximum retail price (MRP).

Imported hazel nuts will also become cheaper as the customs duty has been reduced to 10 per cent from 30 per cent.

Similarly, dehulled oat grain will also be less expensive as customs duty has been cut to 15 per cent from 30 per cent earlier.

Budget 2013 > Union Budget 2013 > Economic Survey 2013

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Railway to introduce modern coach 'Anubhuti' in Rajdhani, Shatabdi trains

(The travelling fare in such…)

NEW DELHI: Railways on Tuesday proposed to introduce a modern coach "Anubhuti" with good ambience in the premier Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains providing higher travel comfort to passengers.

The travelling fare in such a coach will be priced separately, railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal announced in his Budget speech.

"With increased popularity of Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains, there is also a demand for higher travel comfort. Responding to this need, railways will introduce one such coach in select trains which will provide an excellent ambience and latest modern facilities and services," he said.

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Kunal and I are moving in together: Soha Ali Khan

Soha Ali Khan, 34, gets her looks from her mother and nature from her father. Born to a family of super achievers, she has never felt the pressure to compete with them.

With her Oxford and London School of Economics education, she is easily considered the most qualified member in her family. Ahead of her upcoming film Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, she opens up to TOI about the strong bond between her mother and her brother, the similarities in her nature with her abba and her plans to settle down with Kunal Kemmu. Excerpts:

You are the youngest in your family. Were you pampered?
I felt it more later in life, than when I was young, that I am the favourite of both my parents. I would not drink my milk and I was quite theatrical and would pick up some kind of an instrument and say 'why don't you kill me' and my mother would say 'I am just asking you to have your milk'. My father never raised his voiced with us or with even my mom, who can drive anyone up the wall.
She is Bengali, has fire in her blood, is hyper and impatient. She was a heroine of Hindi cinema and so there was nothing as one slap. We would get eight in a row. Bhai (Saif) was the naughty one and knew how to duck, so she would hold him by his hair. My sister and I were angels in comparison. My mother would, in fact, tell us, 'you are so good, we were not as good when we were your age'. I almost felt it was a complaint and we should have been naughtier. By nature, I am like my father — patient, diplomatic, less judgemental and practical, but unlike my dad, who was a private person, I am open. I get hurt only on matters of principle and not emotionally.

Let's talk about your relationship with Saif?
He is unusual and certainly one of his kind and is interesting just as a human study. He is fascinating and you can just sit and watch him. He is incredibly sharp and I know that he is genuinely fond of me. He is volatile and can be sometimes in a good mood and sometimes in a bad mood and you need to respond to that. Once you know how to play your cards right with him, you are safe with him. We did not grow up together, but as adults staying in the same city, he will message me at times and ask me to come over. It's great to have an elder brother in the same city, in the same industry and I'm more appreciative of the fact that he has an amazing cook, Mohan, and the infrastructure at home, which as a single independent woman, I can rely on.
Our relationship is quite unconventional, like discussing adult matters or our relationships. He has a lot of respect for me and will ask for my opinion. You may feel very important but then you know he would have asked everybody ranging from his gym instructor to Mohan to you. And ultimately, he will do something entirely different. He is dependent on me only for communicating with my mother and sister. My mother and Bhai are similar —impatient, headstrong and volatile. I have always known that there is a special mother-son relationship that you don't mess with. My mother and brother communicate via me, will complain about each other, but in reality, if I were to get involved they would be together against me. So I only take messages and pass them on to the both of them. You have to give each of them the impression that you are on their teams respectively. My mother would say that you are so sensible and you are so easy to talk to, but everything will be dropped for my brother if he is coming home.

What attracts Kunal and you to one other?
Initially, I found him quiet to the point of being boring and we had nothing in common. But when we started shooting 99, we started talking and he told me stories about himself and I was attracted to the fact that he had a completely different upbringing compared to mine. Mine was cushioned and secure and from a position of privilege, his was not and I had respect for him being self-made. I felt secure that since he was able to look after himself and his family, he would also be able to look after me. He is dependable, masculine, reliable, intelligent and honest. I was attracted to his athletic look and eyes and respect him.
He has helped me become clear and made my life simpler. Kunal is like an onion, as in you have to peel all the layers. What's on the surface is not representative of what he is. I am not an onion and am very much what I am on the surface. He does not feel encumbered by sophistication if he is upset with me. He is expressive and knows how to push buttons and drive me mad. He can infuriate me and suddenly I find myself becoming this person I am not and fighting in Hindi. We are sometimes yelling at each other and find ourselves slamming doors. He loses his temper and is openly possessive. He is observant and I cannot lie to him ever. When we fight I am surprised our guards have not come to see if someone could have been murdered. I am equally possessive, but don't equally express it. We are different and have had different upbringings and have different skills that we bring to our relationship that works for us as a couple.

Has your family accepted Kunal, given his different family background?
I have been committed in two more relationships before, and I have worn this relationship on my sleeve in a way that I have not done before and choose to do so to cement it. What I appreciate about Kunal is that he is so secure that he is willing to take that on and not compete with that. My father would only be curious and asked questions about him via my mother. My mother comes with her own expectations of a mother and I knew that she would like Kunal once she met him. She was always worried about me being influenced by other people. Initially, she was cold with him, but now is extremely fond of him and sees him as solid and dependable.

Do you see yourself settling down with him?
We are going to move in together as soon as he is back from Thailand four weeks later. We have bought a place together in Khar that I am supposed to be making into a home. And that's quite a commitment. He will put his place on rent and I will put my place on rent and we will move in together into our new place. I have asked my mother for permission. So nobody will be surprised in my family, but other people don't know about it yet.

Do you miss your father?
Ever since I lost my father, I have lost interest in achieving things beyond a point. He was a silent, but a strong presence. When I go to Pataudi, I sleep in his room that has been kept the same way and still has his aura. We sit by his grave when we go there and can feel him. I wrote an essay on him after he died and I would have liked to read the essay to him. He was succinct and would tell you in three words what he wanted to say. His mobile was always switched off and he would say, 'my mobile is for you to be available to me and not for me to be available to others'. He came to visit me in Mumbai a few times. Even though he was born a prince, he had been to a boarding school and could adjust to my two-room apartment without any house help with the same ease as he would do in a mahal. It's not as if I was super ambitious earlier, but now, more than before, I feel the need to be happy today as against planning for tomorrow.

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Cognizant to cut bonuses this year

CHENNAI: Due to the lower achievement of financial targets by Cognizant, top performers at the firm will get lower bonuses this year. An announcement with regard to this is due in a couple of weeks.

The bonus, calculated for performance in 2012, (Cognizant follows January-December fiscal) is likely to be in the range of 90% to 145%, sources said. For 2011, the average bonus payout was 165% while the maximum was 200%. The company is currently computing the bonuses for various business divisions and will communicate this to employees mid-March.

"In the years we beat our original growth guidance, we paid significantly above target. For 2012, where we missed our original guidance, our bonus payout will be a reflection of that performance. It must, however, be noted that our top performers will be rewarded well over 100%, and most others close to 100%," said a Cognizant spokesperson.

Cognizant has consistently exceeded its targets for the last few years except 2012, when it projected to 23% growth but registered only 20% growth. "In 2011, the company did 33% while it had projected 26% growth. Similarly in 2010, the company had projected 20% and ended up doing around 40%," said a Cognizant official.

"While the bonus payout in Cognizant last year was up to 200%, this year it is expected to be up to 145% for the highest performers," said a source. The likely peak bonus payout of 145% is way lower than what Cognizant employees and associates earned in 2011, where the average itself was 165%. Senior management officials and directors may get 90 to 100%, sources said.

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Rail Budget 2013: Highlights

NEW DELHI: Here are the highlights of the Rail Budget 2013 as presented by railway minister PK Bansal.

No hike in passenger fares

Superfast and Tatkal charges to rise

Annual plan for 2013-14 set at Rs 63,363 crore

Losses up from Rs 22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 24,600 crore in 2012-13

Accidents per million km down from .41 to .13

Raised four companies of women RPF personnel; another eight to be raised for women's safety

67 new Express and 26 new passenger trains to run; 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced; run of 57 trains to be extended; frequency of 24 trains to increase

22 new rail lines to be taken up in 2013-14

New debt service fund to be set up

Will close fiscal 2012-13 with fund balance against previous deficit; need to build fund balance to Rs.30,000 crore by end of 12th Plan

Operating ratio of 88.8 percent achieved

Dividend reduced from 5 to 4 percent

Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year

72 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

Rs 6,600 crore increase in earnings from fare adjustment in January

Rs 63,000 crore investment in 2013-14

1,047 million tonnes freight loading estimated during 2013-14

Passenger earnings of Rs 42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14

Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management to be set up at Secunderabad

Chair at Delhi to promote research in reducing carbon footprint

Winners of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Dhyan Chand awards to get free first class passes

Complementary first class passes for parents of unmarried posthumous awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra

Complementary passes of freedom fighters to be renewed every three years instead of annually

New forged wheel factory at Rae Bareli in collaboration with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd

Greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) manufacturing facility at Bhilwara along with Rajasthan government and BHEL

Coach making unit at Sonepat in collaboration with Haryana government

Midlife rehabilitation workshop at Kurnool along with Andhra Pradesh government.

Railway energy management company to be set up to harness solar and wind energy

1,000 crossings to be energised by solar power

1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up

Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned

Azadi Express for travel to places associated with freedom struggle

India in 1 billion tonne freight club

By end of 2013-14, 1,500 km of contracts to be awarded for two dedicated rail corridors

Rs 1 lakh crore target set for public-private-partnership route

Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains

Rs 100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi

179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations

E-ticketing through mobile phones

SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status

Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013

Seventeen bridges identified for repair

Smoke and fire detection system envisaged

Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans

Making corporate Safety Plan for a 10 year period (2014-24)

Introduction of Train Protection Warning System on Automatic Signalling Systems

Rigorous trials of indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System

Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains

Elimination of 10,797 level crossings during the 12th Plan and no addition of such crossings

Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up

Budget 2013 > Rail Budget 2013 > Economic Survey 2013

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Rail Budget 2013: No fare hike this time but 5-6% every year

NEW DELHI: With no fare hike, 106 new trains and a host of proposals for travel safety and comfort, such as escalators at key stations, a new e-ticketing system and a swanky coach in select trains, railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presented his maiden annual budget for his ministry on Tuesday.

"The growth of Indian Railways is inextricably linked with the growth of the country," Bansal said in his 80-minute budget speech in Lok Sabha, that bordered on populism with a fair dose of measures on fiscal discipline.

"Railways must remain financially sustainable. Resources generated must be ploughed back," he said in what was the last such annual exercise for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government before the next general elections, scheduled in 2014.

But Bansal said there will be no major fare hikes this time, having already revised them last month. He nevertheless proposed minor revisions in some charges, such as those for tatkal and reservations. He also called for a routine 5-6 percent fare hike every year.

On freight, he said, there will be an upward revision of 5-6 percent from April 1 to balance the hike in fuel costs. He said freight and passenger fares must be de-linked from the fuel costs with periodic automatic adjustments.

Bansal said while making all these proposals, he was happy to note that the operating ratio of Indian Railways -- the money spent on recurring costs such as salaries and interest to earn Rs 1 in revenue -- had come down to 88 paise from around 95 paise.

He kept the plan target for 2013-14 at Rs 63,363 crore (Rs.633.63 billion or $11.5 billion)

The minister said railways remained the single most important catalyst in India's growth story and was a vital organisation integrating the nation from Baramulla in the north to Kanyamumari in the south, and from Dwarka in the west to Ledo in the east.

Bansal expressed grief over the loss lives due to the recent stampede at the Allahabad station and said a concrete safety plan would ensure that travel on Indian Railways is hassle free. The minister said safety of women, in particular, will be a priority.

He said the remaining 13,000-odd unmanned level crossings will be mechanised, while 400 lifts and 179 escalators will be deployed in catagory one stations. This apart, coaches will be made wheel-chair friendly and approaches made easy for the differently-abled.

"With the popularity of Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains, high-travel comfort has been high on passenger agenda. For this, one such coach, that will provide excellent ambience and services, will run on select trains. Such coaches will be called 'Anubhuti'," he said.

India's railroad network, ranked among the top five in the world, is spread over 64,000 km with 7,083 stations, to ferry 23 million travellers and 2.65 million tonnes of goods daily on 12,000 passenger and 7,000 freight trains.

Bansal, who represents Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha, said he was well aware about the problems faced by passengers while booking tickets on the internet. Accordingly, he promised a next-generation ticketing system by the end of this year.

The advocate-turned politician also promised a new e-ticketing system through mobile phones, SMS alerts for reservation status and free wi-fi on select trains, apart from setting a target of Rs.1 trillion for projects under public-private partnership.

Budget 2013 > Rail Budget 2013 > Economic Survey 2013

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List of new express, passenger trains introduced in Rail Budget 2013

NEW DELHI: Railways will introduce 67 new express trains, 27 new passenger trains and run of 58 trains will be extended, Pawan Bansal said.

Express trains

1. Ahmedabad - Jodhpur Express (Weekly) Via Samdari, Bhildi
2. Ajni (Nagpur) - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express (Weekly) Via
Hingoli
3. Amritsar - Lalkuan Express (Weekly) Via Chandigarh
4. Bandra Terminus - Ramnagar Express (Weekly) Via Nagda,
Mathura, Kanpur, Lucknow, Rampur
5. Bandra Terminus - Jaisalmer Express (Weekly) Via Marwar,
Jodhpur
6. Bandra Terminus - Hisar Express (Weekly) Via Ahmedabad,
Palanpur, Marwar, Jodhpur, Degana
7. Bandra Terminus - Haridwar Express (Weekly) Via Valsad
8. Bangalore - Mangalore Express (Weekly)
9. Bathinda - Jammu Tawi Express (Weekly) Via Patiala, Rajpura
10. Bhubaneswar - Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (Weekly) Via
Sambalpur
11. Bikaner - Chennai AC Express (Weekly) Via Jaipur, Sawai
Madhopur, Nagda, Bhopal, Nagpur
12. Chandigarh -Amritsar Intercity Express (Daily) Via Sahibzada
Ajitsingh Nagar (Mohali), Ludhiana
13. Chennai - Karaikudi Express (Weekly)
14. Chennai - Palani Express (Daily) Via Jolarpettai, Salem, Karur,
Namakkal 32
15. Chennai Egmore - Thanjavur Express (Daily) Via Villupuram,
Mayiladuthurai
16. Chennai - Nagarsol (For Sai Nagar Shirdi) Express (Weekly)
Via Renigunta, Dhone, Kacheguda
17. Chennai - Velankanni Link Express (Daily) Via Villupuram,
Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur
18. Coimbatore - Mannargudi Express (Daily) Via
Tiruchchirappalli, Thanjavur, Nidamangalam
19. Coimbatore - Rameswaram Express (Weekly)
20. Delhi - Firozpur Intercity Express (Daily) Via Bathinda
21. Delhi Sarai Rohilla - Sikar Express (Bi-weekly) after gauge
conversion
22. Delhi - Hoshiarpur Express (Weekly)
23. Durg - Jaipur Express (Weekly)
24. Gandhidham - Visakhapatnam Express (Weekly) Via
Ahmedabad, Wardha, Ballarshah, Vijaywada
25. Hazrat Nizamuddin - Mumbai AC Express (Weekly) via
Bhopal, Khandwa, Bhusawal
26. Howrah - Chennai AC Express (Bi-weekly) Via Bhadrak,
Duvvada, Gudur
27. Howrah - New Jalpaiguri AC Express (Weekly) Via Malda
Town
28. Hubli - Mumbai Express (Weekly) Via Miraj, Pune
29. Indore - Chandigarh Express (Weekly) Via Dewas, Ujjain,
Guna, Gwalior, Hazrat Nizamuddin
30. Jabalpur - Yesvantpur Express (Weekly)Via Nagpur,
Dharmavaram
31. Jaipur - Lucknow Express (Tri-weekly) Via Bandikui, Mathura,
Kanpur
32. Jaipur-Alwar Express (Daily)
33. Jodhpur -Jaipur Express (Daily) Via Phulera
34. Jodhpur - Kamakhya (Guwahati) Express (Weekly) Via
Degana, Ratangarh
35. Kakinada - Mumbai Express (Bi-weekly)
36. Kalka - Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Bi-weekly) Via Hazrat
Nizamuddin , Bhopal, Itrasi 33
37. Kamakhya (Guwahati) - Anand VIhar Express (Weekly) Via
Katihar, Barauni, Sitapur Cantt, Moradabad
38. Kamakhya (Guwahati) - Bangalore AC Express (Weekly )
39. Kanpur - Anand Vihar Express (Weekly) Via Farrukhabad
40. Katihar - Howrah Express (Weekly) Via Malda Town
41. Katra - Kalka Express (Bi-weekly) Via Morinda
42. Kolkata - Agra Express (Weekly) Via Amethi, Rae Bareli,
Mathura
43. Kolkata - Sitamarhi Express (Weekly) Via Jhajha, Barauni,
Darbhanga
44. Kota - Jammu Tawi Express (Weekly) Via Mathura, Palwal
45. Kurnool Town - Secunderabad Express (Daily)
46. Lokmanya Tilak (T) - Kochuveli Express (Weekly)
47. Lucknow - Varanasi Express Via Rae-Bareli (6 Days a week)
48. Madgaon - Mangalore Intercity Express (Daily) Via Udupi,
Karwar
49. Mangalore - Kacheguda Express (Weekly) Via Dhone, Gooty,
Renigunta, Coimbatore
50. Mau - Anand Vihar Express (Bi-weekly)
51. Mumbai - Solapur Express (6 Days a week) Via Pune
52. Nagercoil - Bangalore Express (Daily) Via Madurai,
Tiruchchirappalli
53. New Delhi - Katra AC Express (6 Days a week)
54. Nizamabad - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express (Weekly)
55. Patna - Sasaram Intercity Express (Daily) Via Ara
56. Patliputra (Patna) - Bangalore Express (Weekly) Via Chheoki
57. Puducherry - Kanniyakumari Express (Weekly) Via
Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchchirappalli
58. Puri - Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Weekly) Via Sambalpur,
Titlagarh, Raipur, Nagpur, Bhusawal
59. Puri -Ajmer Express (Weekly) Via Abu-Road
60. Radhikapur - Anand Vihar Link Express (Daily)
61. Rajendra Nagar Terminus (Patna)- New Tinsukia Express
(Weekly) Via Katihar, Guwahati
62. Tirupati - Puducherry Express (Weekly)
63. Tirupati - Bhubaneswar Express (Weekly) Via Visakhapatnam 34
64. Una / Nangaldam- Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express (Weekly)
Via Anandpur Saheb, Morinda, Chandigarh, Ambala
65. Visakhapatnam - Jodhpur Express (Weekly) Via Titlagarh,
Raipur
66. Visakhapatnam - Kollam Express (Weekly)
67. Yesvantpur - Lucknow Express (Weekly) via Rae Bareli,
Pratapgarh

Passenger trains

1. Bathinda - Dhuri Passenger (Daily)
2. Bikaner-Ratangarh Passenger (Daily)
3. Bhavnagar - Palitana Passenger (Daily)
4. Bhavnagar - Surendranagar Passenger (Daily)
5. Bareilly - Lalkuan Passenger (Daily)
6. Chhapra -Thawe Passenger (Daily)
7. Loharu - Sikar Passenger (Daily) after gauge conversion
8. Madgaon - Ratnagiri Passenger (Daily)
9. Marikuppam - Bangalore Passenger (Daily)
10. Muzaffarpur - Sitamarhi Passenger (Daily) via Runnisaidpur
11. Nadiad - Modasa Passenger (6 days a week)
12. Nandyal - Kurnool Town passenger (Daily)
13. New Amravati - Narkher Passenger (Daily)
14. Punalur - Kollam Passenger (Daily)
15. Purna - Parli Vaijnath Passenger (Daily)
16. Palani-Tiruchendur Passenger (Daily)
17. Ratangarh - Sardarsahar Passenger (Daily) after gauge
conversion
18. Samastipur- Banmankhi Passenger via Saharsa, Madhepura
(Daily) after gauge conversion
19. Shoranur - Kozhikode Passenger (Daily)
20. Surendranagar - Dharangdhara Passenger (Daily)
21. Suratgarh - Anupgarh Passenger (Daily)
22. Somnath - Rajkot Passenger (Daily)
23. Sitamarhi - Raxaul Passenger (Daily) 35
24. Sriganganagar - Hanumangarh-Sadulpur Passenger (Daily)
after gauge conversion
25. Talguppa - Shimoga Town Passenger (Daily)
26. Thrisur-Guruvayur Passenger (Daily)

MEMU services

1. Barabanki - Kanpur
2. Chennai - Tirupati
3. Delhi- Rohtak (Replacement of conventional service by
MEMU)
4. Lucknow - Hardoi
5. Sealdah - Berhampore Court

DEMU services

1. Bhatkal - Thokur
2. Delhi - Kurukshetra Via Kaithal
3. Katwa - Jangipur
4. Lucknow - Sultanpur
5. Lucknow - Pratapgarh Via Gauriganj
6. Madgaon - Karwar
7. Rohtak - Rewari
8. Taran Taran - Goindwal Saheb

Extension of trains

1. 19601/19602 Ajmer-New Jalpaiguri Express to Udaipur
2. 15715/15716 Ajmer-Kishanganj Express to New Jalpaiguri
3. 12403/12404 Allahabad - Mathura Express to Jaipur
4. 17307/17308 Bagalkot-Yesvantpur Express to Mysore
5. 18437/18438 Bhubaneswar - Bhawanipatna Express to
Junagarh 36
6. 18191/18192 Chhapra - Kanpur Anwarganj Express to
Farrukhabad
7. 16127/16128 Chennai-Madurai portion of Chennai-Guruvayur
Express to Tuticorin
8. 12231/12232 Chandigarh-Lucknow Express to Patna (2 days)
9. 12605/12606 Chennai-Tiruchchirappalli Express to Karaikudi
10. 14007/14008 Delhi-Muzaffarpur Express to Raxaul after gauge
conversion
11. 14017/14018 Delhi-Muzaffarpur Express to Raxaul after gauge
conversion
12. 12577/12578 Darbhanga-Bangalore Express to Mysore
13. 14731/14732 Delhi - Bathinda Express to Fazilka
14. 14705/14706 Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Sadulpur Express to
Sujangarh (Salasar Express)
15. 15159/15160 Durg- Chhapra Express to Muzaffarpur and
Gondia
16. 12507/12508 Guwahati-Ernakulam Express to
Thiruvananthapuram
17. 17005/17006 Hyderabad-Darbhanga Express to Raxaul after
gauge conversion
18. 17011/17012 Hyderabad- Belampalli Express to Sirpur
Kaghaznagar
19. 16591/16592 Hubli-Bangalore Express to Mysore
20. 12181/12182 Jabalpur-Jaipur Express to Ajmer
21. 15097/15098 Jammu Tawi-Barauni Express to Bhagalpur
22. 13117/13118 Kolkata - Berhampore Court Express to Lalgola
23. 22981/22982 Kota-Hanumangarh Express to Shri Ganga Nagar
24. 15609/15610 Lalgarh- Guwahati Express to New Tinsukia
25. 12145/12146 Lokmanya Tilak (T)-Bhubaneswar Express to Puri
26. 12545/12546 Lokmanya Tilak (T)-Darbhanga Express to Raxaul
after gauge conversion
27. 12449/12450 Madgaon-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express to
Chandigarh
28. 12653/12654 Mangalore - Tiruchchirappalli Express to
Puducherry
29. 29019/29020 Meerut-Nimach Link Express to Mandasor 37
30. 22107/22108 Mumbai CST-Latur Express to Hazoor Saheb
Nanded
31. 14003/14004 New Delhi -New Farakka Express to Malda
Town
32. 15723/15724 New Jalpaiguri-Darbhanga Express to Sitamarhi
33. 18419/18420 Puri-Darbhanga Express to Jaynagar
34. 19327/19328 Ratlam-Chittaurgarh Express to Udaipur
35. 13133/13134 Sealdah - Varanasi Express (2 Days) to Delhi via
Lucknow, Moradabad
36. 14711/14712 Shri Ganga Nagar - Haridwar Express to
Rishikesh
37. 16535/16536 Solapur-Yesvantpur Express to Mysore
38. 19251/19252 Somnath-Dwarka Express to Okha
39. 12629/12630 Yesvantpur - Hazrat Nizamuddun Sampark
Kranti Express 2 days to Chandigarh
40. 59601/59602 Ajmer-Beawar Passenger to Marwar
41. 56513/56514 Bangalore-Nagore Passenger to Karaikal
42. 51183/51184 Bhusaval-Amravati Passenger to Narkher
43. 57502/57503 Bodhan-Kamareddi Passenger to Mirzapalli
44. 54632/54633 Dhuri-Hisar/ Hisar- Ludhiana Passenger to Sirsa
45. 56700/56701Madurai-Kollam Passenger to Punalur
46. 56709/56710 Madurai-Dindigul Passenger to Palani
47. 56275/56276 Mysore-Shimoga Town Passenger to Talguppa
48. 59297/59298 Porbander-Veraval Passenger to Somnath
49. 66611/66612 Ernakulam-Thrisur MEMU to Palakkad
50. 67277/67278 Falaknuma-Bhongir MEMU to Jangaon
51. 66304/66305 Kollam-Nagarcoil MEMU to Kanniyakumari
52. 63131/63132 Krishnanagar City-Berhampore Court MEMU to
Ranaghat and to Cossimbazar
53. 74021/74024 Delhi-Shamli DEMU to Saharanpur
54. 76837/76838 Karaikudi-Manamadurai DEMU to Virudunagar
after gauge conversion
55. 79454/79445 Morbi-Wankaner DEMU to Rajkot
56. 77676/77677 Miryalguda-Nadikudi DEMU to Piduguralla
57. 79301/79302 Ratlam-Chittaurgarh DEMU to Bhilwara 38

Increase in frequency

1. 12547/12548 Agra Fort -Ahmedabad Express 3 to 7 days
2. 11453/11454 Ahmedabad-Nagpur Express 2 to 3 days
3. 22615/22616 Coimbatore-Tirupati Express 3 to 4 days
4. 14037/14038 Delhi-Pathankot Express 3 to 6 days
5. 19409/19410 Gorakhpur - Ahmedabad Express 1 to 2 days
6. 13465/13466 Howrah - Malda Town Express 6 to 7 days
7. 12159/12160 Jabalpur - Amravati Express 3 to 7 days
8. 11103/11104 Jhansi - Bandra (T) Express 1 to 2 days
9. 19325/19326 Indore - Amritsar Express 1 to 2 days
10. 12469/12470 Kanpur - Jammu Tawi Express 1 to 2 days
11. 12217/12218 Kochuveli - Chandigarh Express 1 to 2 days
12. 12687/12688 Madurai - Dehradun/Chandigarh Express 1 to 2
days
13. 13409/13410 Malda Town - Jamalpur Express 6 to 7 days
14. 17213/17214 Narsapur - Nagersol (Near Sainagar Shirdi)
Express 2 to 7 days
15. 12877/12878 Ranchi-New Delhi Garib Rath Express 2 to 3 days
16. 18509/18510 Visakhapatnam - Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express
2 to 3 days
17. 22819/22820 Visakhapatnam - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express 2
to 7 days
18. 18309/18310 Sambalpur-Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express 2 to 3
days
19. 12751/12752 Secunderabad - Manuguru Express 3 to 7 days
20. 12629/12630 Yesvantpur - Hazrat Nizamuddun Sampark
Kranti Express 2 to 4 days
21. 56221/56222/56525/56526 Bangalore - Tumkur Passenger 6 to
7 days
22. 56321 Kanniyakumari-Tirunelveli Passenger 6 to 7 days
23. 56325 Nagercoil - Kanniyakumari Passenger 6 to 7 days
24. 56312 Tirunelveli - Nagercoil Passenger 6 to 7 days 39

Budget 2013

Rail Budget 2013

Economic Survey 2013

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Dhoni breaks Sachin's record of highest score by Indian skipper

CHENNAI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record of highest individual Test score by an Indian captain en route his majestic 224 against Australia in the first Test.

Dhoni, who reached his maiden double century on Sunday went past Tendulkar's 217 scored against New Zealand in 1999-00 at Ahmedabad.

Dhoni reached the feat in the 144th over when he first hit a flat six off Nathan Lyon to reach 217 and then took a single to surpass Tendulkar's score.

The India captain however fell eight runs short of equalling Andy Flower's highest individual score by a skipper --- 232 against India.

Highest Individual scores by Indian captains:

224 Mahendra Singh Dhoni vs Aus (Chennai)

217 Sachin Tendulkar vs New Zealand (Ahmedabad)

205 Sunil Gavaskar vs West Indies (Mumbai)

203 MAK Pataudi vs England (Delhi).

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Why you should have sex in the morning

For most of us, the sound of the alarm clock blaring in our ears first thing in the morning is definitely not a happy sound.

But instead of hitting that snooze button and sinking back into meaningless slumber, why not make use of that rude awakening to spruce up your sex life! Begin your day with some brilliant lovemaking. After all, morning sex is not only good for your love life, it is also beneficial health-wise. So surprise your partner by trying out the following tips and heighten the pleasures of that early morning rendezvous...

This may not seem too relevant at the time, but always remember to relieve yourself of bodily fluids before you head to bed the night before. Nothing kills the mood more than trying to hold back the urge to visit the bathroom, while you are about to do it!

- Don't forget to brush your teeth the night before. Also, consider keeping some dissolvable mints (NOT chewing gum) at your bedside to pop, when you wake up. Bad breath can ruin any sexual experience.

- Try initiating sex in a different way, instead of opting for the same old predictable routine. Give your man a sexy 'wake-up call'. To do this, play some soft romantic music, and as soon as you both are awake and aroused, quietly slip out of your clothes. He'll definitely get the hint.

- Keep condoms in an arm's length of the bed, for you never know what the early morning cuddling may lead to. You definitely don't want to scavenge the room searching for them.

- Morning sex is refreshingly primal because it is difficult to hide your physical flaws, thanks to the view daylight offers. So let go of your inhibitions and draw back the shades; enjoy sex with a visual thrill!

- You could experiment with positions too. Since you both will be groggy, try a position like spooning that requires little effort.

- Your sexcapade need not be restricted to the bedroom. Take a hot-water shower together. You can rub aromatic body gel on each other's bodies, so that the scent arouses both of you.

- After your lovemaking session, you can make your man feel special by getting him his favorite breakfast in bed.

- If you are running late but still don't want to miss out on spending time with your partner, indulge in a quickie. Mornings are the perfect time, because you will probably be in a rush, and the heart-pounding adrenaline of hurried sex will intensify the entire experience. Also, quickies don't necessarily have to end in intercourse. A hot-and-heavy makeout session, before you dash out of the door for work, will go a long way towards igniting your passion.

Why morning sex is good for you...
- People who begin their day with sex are healthier and happier than those who simply opt for a cup of tea and breakfast before heading out of the door. No points for guessing the reason!

- Having sex in the morning releases the feel-good chemical oxytocin, which makes couples feel bonded all day long.

- Apart from the fact that regular morning sex makes you feel upbeat for the rest of the day, it also helps in building a stronger immune system.

- Believe it or not, it makes you less susceptible to catching a cold or flu and can also improve the quality of your hair, skin, and nails.

- Having morning sex three times a week lessens the risk of a heart attack or stroke. What are you waiting for?

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Suspicious bags found in several areas of Delhi, high alert sounded

NEW DELHI: Unclaimed bags have been found in different parts of Delhi on Monday. A high alert has been sounded by the Delhi Police following the suspicious recoveries that comes close to the heels of the deadly twin blasts in Hyderabad where 16 people were killed.

A suspicious bag was recovered from outside an Army hospital in the capital, police said. According to sources, bikers threw the bag containing an explosive device near the Army's Base Hospital in Delhi's cantonment area around 2pm.

Delhi Police say only forensic team can confirm if substances found in the bag were actually explosives. However, they say it seems to contain explosives-like material.

Army's bomb squad found wire-like materials in an unclaimed bag in Delhi Cantonment area. They destroyed the bag using cortex.

According to the sources, the device was diffused with muffled explosion.

Another suspicious bag has been found in south Delhi's Greater Kailash's M-Block market.

Two more bags were found in Gopinath market in southwest Delhi and Mangolpuri. One had papers and the other had a speaker.

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4 women thrash 'nude' history-sheeter to death

MUMBAI: Four women beat a 35-year-old man to death in a Ghatkopar slum, in the presence of scores of witnesses, after he came out nude from his home and abused them. The incident took place on the night of February 10. Jethwa suffered internal blows and died the next morning. Despite the murder happening in front of so many people, not a single person has come forward to identify the four women.

Cops initially registered Harish Jethwa's death as accidental but made it a murder case after getting the post-mortem report. Initially, the Ghatkopar police had registered an accidental death report (ADR). On February 22, the police registered a case of culpable homicide on the basis of the post-mortem report.

The police said that the incident occurred around 11pm on February 10 when the accused came out of his home nude and hurled abuses at four women in the locality over petty issues. The entire assault was witnessed by several residents of Sainath Nagar in Ghatkopar (W) but no one came forward as a witness in the case.

Jethwa was a history-sheeter and not in good terms with his neighbours. "The case was registered after the post-mortem confirmed that the death was caused by internal injuries that he had suffered after the women assaulted him for his obscene act," said Ghatkopar police inspector C N Puri.

The police are searching for the four unidentified women who were booked under IPC Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). In the complaint, victim's mother Manji (63) said, "The four women thrashed my son for no reason after calling him out of our house. They also made allegations that my son stepped out of the house without any clothes. He was properly dressed but the women assaulters alleged that he was nude."

The police said that they are investigating the matter and will arrest all the accused who committed the offence.

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Ind vs Aus: Dhoni slams maiden double ton, India dominate

NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave an exhibition of blistering strokeplay to hit a career-best undefeated 206 while Virat Kohli cracked 107 as India rode on their captain's batting brilliance to gain control of the first cricket Test against Australia by taking a substantial 135-run first innings lead on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match In Pics

Dhoni produced a stunning counter-attacking knock to notch up his maiden double hundred, his sixth Test century overall, while Kohli recorded his fourth in longer format as the hosts reached a commanding 515 for eight at close, on an eventful third day's play.

The Indian captain set the M A Chidambaram stadium ablaze with his amazing strokeplay as he smashed 22 boundaries and five sixes during his 243-ball assault much to the delight of a sizeable Sunday crowd which cheered the Indians as they went about consolidating their position in the match.

Dhoni, who was agonisingly run out for 99 against England in India last Test in Nagpur, changed the complexion of the game with his aggressive batting after the hosts lost Sachin Tendulkar (81) early in the morning session. Tendulkar, who gave glimpses of his vintage form yesterday, could add just ten runs to his tally.

The Indians found the going a little tough in the pre-lunch session as the runs dried up but the second new ball ball saw the game slipping away from the Australians as both Dhoni and Kohli attacked the bowlers with an array of shots on both sides of the wicket.

The duo added 128 runs for the fifth wicket before off-spinner Nathan Lyon provided the breakthrough for the visitors with India still 56 runs short of Australia's first innings total.

Kohli paid the price for a lapse in concentration as he tried to lift a delivery from Nathan Lyon over mid-on but could not get the desired elevation and Mitchell Starc latched on to a good catch. Kohli clobbered 15 boundaries and a six during his 206-ball knock.

Dhoni then took centrestage and virtually single handedly took India to a position of strength with a superb batting display in hot and humid conditions.

After Kohli's dismissal, India lost another three wickets in periodic intervals as Ravindra Jadeja (16), Ravichandran Ashwin (3) and Harbhajan Singh (11) were back in the pavilion.

However Bhuvneshwar Kumar (15 batting) complemented his skipper really well as they put on a record 109 runs for ninth wicket partnership against Australia.

There were times when Dhoni shielded Bhuvneshwar from the Aussie attack as he refused singles on a number of occasions.

The humidity took its toll but the skipper never gave in. Whenever the Aussies tried to keep him quiet, he responded with a typical big hit either straight or towards the deep mid-wicket range.

The 31-year-old Dhoni recorded the highest score by an Indian wicket keeper, eclipsing Budhi Kundaran previous best of 192 scored against England in 1964 at Madras Corporation Stadium.

Dhoni also surpassed 4000 Test runs during his game-changing knock.

With couple of days left in the match, India will look to increase their lead as much as possible and then try to push for victory by bundling out out the Aussies cheaply in the second innings as the track is expected to deteriorate gradually.

With rough being created by the bowler's footmarks on both sides of the track, the Indian team would expect both in-form Ashwin and senior pro Harbhajan to make best use of the conditions so that India doesn't have to bat last on this track. Even if they come out to bat, they would expect the target to be less than 50 runs which will mean that batsmen won't be under any kind of pressure.

Ideally, Dhoni would be expecting that Bhuvneshwar provides him with the same kind of support tomorrow which will enable him to take the lead closer to 200 runs.

The launchpad of this furious assault certainly was the 128-run fifth wicket partenrship with Kohli as India went into tea at a relatively comfortable score of 371 for six.

While Australia were hoping that the second new ball will help them make some decisive inroads into the Indian lower middle-order, Dhoni thought otherwise.

The new ball was taken in the 83rd over and in the next seven overs, Dhoni-Kohli duo had smashed the Aussie bowlers to the cleaners to score 54 runs.

If Kohli was ready to wait for the loose deliveries, Dhoni was even hitting the full-pitched deliveries over the bowler's head.

With a bottom-handed grip and powerful wrists, the Jharkhand dasher generated enormous power behind each of his shots with minimal backlift as the ball flew to all corners of the ground.

Kohli completed his century when he clipped a full inswinging delivery from James Pattinson to the square leg fence. The celebration was very unlike Kohli as there was a satisfying smile and no aggressive gesture as one normally associates with the Delhi lad.

Although, Kohli was out for 107, all-rounder Jadeja hung around for a while before shouldering arms to a delivery from Pattinson that knocked his off-stump back.

At the break, Dhoni was holding fort with R Ashwin (3) giving him company.

Dhoni completed his century off 119 balls by hitting Siddle over fine leg for a boundary.

While his first 100 came off 119 balls, his second hundred was a touch faster as he took another 112 balls to reach the landmark.

Among the Australian bowlers, Pattinson was certainly the best as he got four for 89 from his 26 overs but Siddle and Starc will be disappointed on not being able to get breakthroughs despite bowling 47 overs between them.

While left-arm pacer Starc wasn't able to hit the right length consistently, Siddle atleast managed to keep things tight. Nathan Lyon (3/182 in 40 overs) predictably bowled the most number of overs but was clobbered consistently by Dhoni.

Australian captain Clarke will certainly feel that he played a spinner short in this match.

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Model-actor kidnapped, killed in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A 20-year-old model and upcoming actor was murdered and his body stuffed in a suitcase, allegedly by kidnappers who had called his family two days ago with a demand for Rs 2 lakh. Sumit Tiwari's body was found on Saturday at the east Delhi residence one of his acquaintances, Shantideep, who has gone missing.

Sumit was apparently strangled to death and there were several injury marks on his body, police said.

The motive for the murder is unclear but cops suspect Sumit was kidnapped to finance a movie. The acquaintance, Shantideep, was reportedly a screenplay writer and part of a film Sumit was to act in. When police traced calls and reached Shantideep's house in Mandawali, it was locked. Shantideep has been untraceable since.

Shantideep belongs to Devariya in UP and teams have been sent to trace him. Police are also looking for a purported film maker, Rakesh, as Sumit had left home on February 19 and 20 to meet him.

Sumit lived with his parents in Johripur in Karawal Nagar in northeast Delhi. His father, Rameshwar Tiwari, works for a private company. Sumit had completed an acting course from Marwah Studio, Film City, in December and had started modelling for various agencies. In the past few months, he was acting in TV soaps, an officer said.

On Thursday, he was at Akshardham temple for a shoot and had called up his father around 5pm saying he would return home soon. Around 8pm, the family received a call from an unidentified person that Sumit was in their custody. He demanded Rs 2 lakh at the earliest to release him.

The kidnappers called up a second time but the Tiwaris were too scared to pick it up. They went to the police and filed a case of abduction. Sumit's details were soon uploaded on Zipnet, a website for missing people.

Tracing the calls on Sumit's mobile number, police teams reached Shantideep's house in lane number 2 of Mandawali on Saturday evening which was locked. Police broke open the door and found Sumit's body stuffed in a suitcase. Sumit's body has been preserved in GTB Hospital for postmortem which will be conducted on Sunday or Monday, an officer said.

As news of the death of their only son reached the Tiwari family, a pall of gloom settled over the household. "They had spent lakhs of rupees on Sumit's training and wanted him to become a star. They had no idea that this profession will lead to his murder," said a relative. Sumit's mother has been fainting on and off while his father has not stopped crying since. Sumit is survived by his parents and an elder sister.

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Dog carries man's head, shocks Bangalore University campus

TNN Feb 22, 2013, 01.35AM IST

BANGALORE: It was an early morning shocker for some students of Bangalore University in Jnanabharathi campus on Thursday. A dog was spotted carrying the head of a man in its mouth on the campus.

Chased by students, the dog let go of the head and fled. Alerted by students, police rushed to spot. After a search, police recovered a headless body in a forested area, away from the vice-chancellor's residence.

Police recovered a rope near the body, raising the suspicion that the victim may have committed suicide. "The spinal cord of the victim had been snapped. So there is a good chance that the dog must have taken away the head," a senior officer said.

"The body is completely decomposed and it must have been some time since the man committed suicide. We are yet to identify him. He may have been a middle-aged person," he added.

However, a senior IPS officer said police have been asked to probe all angles of the case. "The case may look like suicide but we don't want to leave any stone unturned. The post-mortem report will be able to throw more light on the matter," the officer said.

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Indian Mujahideen hand becomes clearer in Hyderabad blasts

NEW DELHI: As investigators trawl the devastated spots in Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar for clues to Thursday's twin blasts, a debate has begun in the home ministry over whether the terror attack could have been prevented.

According to reports reaching here, there is no breakthrough yet for the investigators. "We are still groping in the dark," a senior home ministry official familiar with the details of the probe said. However, there was relief after it turned out that some of the CCTV cameras in the ill-fated locality were functional at the time of the explosions on Thursday evening and, therefore, might be holding pointers.

Senior sources disputed reports that the wires of CCTV cameras had been snapped four days ago.

The MHA had fewer doubts on Friday about the involvement of Indian Mujahideen in the attack. The bombs carried the signature of IM. Both the devices were packed with ammonium nitrate and shrapnel with a timer mechanism: the staple of IM bomb-makers. The use of cycles to strap bombs has also been an IM trademark since November 2007 when they attacked courts in UP.

Both bombs were designed to ensure that the impact of explosions was concentrated on one side: again a stock in trade for IM which has used boat-shaped devices earlier in order to maximize casualties.

Faced with allegations of intelligence failure in Parliament, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde pointed out that the Centre has issued a series of alerts to authorities in Hyderabad about a possible terrorist reprisal against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The first advisory went out on Saturday, alerting states against the threat of United Jehad Council to launch a fresh terror campaign against India to avenge Guru's hanging. The message was amplified by Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed.

Although the first alert was general in nature, intelligence agencies, acting on basis of intercepts, refined it to caution that Hyderabad, along with Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Hubli and certain places in Gujarat and Maharashtra, could be on the hit list of terrorists desperate to make good their threat.

This message highlighting the threat to Hyderabad was sent on February 19. The following day, Intelligence Bureau asked the states to step up vigil at places which were known to be on the radar of terrorists and had been recced.

Centre's concern, prompted by clear inputs according to Shinde, that a terrorist strike could be in the works manifested itself again on February 20, when it repeated that Hyderabad could be among the likely targets along with other places.

The same anxiety led the government to sound the same alert anew on Thursday morning just eight hours before the bombs went off in Hyderabad, killing at least 16 and maiming many more.

Dilsukhnagar fitted the bill, having been surveyed by an IM module as recently as last year. Delhi Police had on the basis of testimonies of two alleged IM terrorists, Syed Maqbool and Imran, told Andhra authorities that the locality was recceed as recently in July last year.

Sources in the home ministry said that the emphasis on the sites which had already been reconnoitered reflected the assessment that the terrorists were under pressure to do something spectacular sooner than later and, hence, focussed on locales they were already familiar with.

Centre refrained from blaming the state government, with Shinde saying in Rajya Sabha that the calm professionalism of AP cops was worth emulating. But many in his own ministry wondered whether cops could have prevented the carnage by upping their guard in response to a series of advisories. There was also puzzlement about the reasons why they failed to do so despite the fact that terrorists had targeted the same spot in 2007.

The last attempt failed only because the device planted by IM terrorists failed to go off, sparing the locality the devastation caused by the bombs the same module led by Riyaz Bhatkal had planted at Gokul Chat Bhandar and Lumbini Park.

According to sources, one possible explanation could be the fatigue among cops over having to deal with the same kind of alerts over and over again. They said the counter-terror advisories issued in the wake of Guru's hanging were not different from those which were sent after Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab was sent to the gallows in November.

The alerts issued after Kasab's execution had mentioned Hyderabad along with Bangalore and Coimbatore among the vulnerable spots. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Shinde emphasized that the Centre had strong reasons to hoist the caution sign higher after February 19 and afterwards. If this was the case, the authorities clearly failed to impress the urgency upon the men at ground zero

Sources said that the routine of having to respond to the same kind of cues repeatedly could not but lead to a dulling of response: a vulnerability which could be exploited by a terrorist group set on a particular target as has been the case with IM and Dilsukhnagar. The predominantly Hindu locality with a history of communal tension has been consistently targeted by terrorists since 1999 when they unsuccessfully planted a bomb there.

The terrorists returned again in 2002 when a bomb claimed two lives. Residents were lucky in 2007 when the bomb planted there did not go off, but the determined group had had their way on Thursday.

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Ind vs Aus: Tendulkar, Kohli hit fifties to take India to 182/3 at stumps on Day 2

CHENNAI: Sachin Tendulkar showed glimpses of his vintage form with a fluent unbeaten half-century as India recovered from two early jolts to leave the first Test against Australia evenly poised on Saturday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

The 39-year-old veteran, who had been struggling for form for a long time, played with decisive footwork and a positive frame of mind to guide India to 182 for three in 52 overs on the second day at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which saw local boy R Ashwin grab a career-best seven-wicket haul.

Tendulkar (71 batting) and Virat Kohli (50 batting) were at the crease when stumps were drawn with India still trailing by 198 runs. The two have so far added 77 runs for the fourth wicket.

Tendulkar, in the course of his 67th Test half-century, touched another milestone by surpassing 7,000 runs on home turf. Kohli, on the other hand, completed his sixth Test half-century at the fag end of the day.

Resuming at the overnight score of 316/7, the Australians continued to frustrate the Indians with captain Michael Clarke (130) and the tailenders combining to score 64 more runs to take the score to a competitive 380.

Ashwin, who had scalped six wickets on the opening day, claimed the wicket of last man Nathan Lyon to return with figures of 7/103, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/71) and Harbhajan Singh (1/87) were the other wicket-takers.

The Indian reply was disastrous to start with as openers Virender Sehwag (10) and Murali Vijay (2) departed in close succession, falling to tearaway pacer James Pattinson, who was used in short spells.

But Cheteshwar Pujara (44) and Tendulkar steadied the innings to some extent with a 93-run third-wicket partnership. Both the batsmen launched a brilliant counter-attack to unsettle the Aussie bowlers.

Tendulkar hit two glorious fours off first two balls he faced from Pattinson and clobbered another majestic boundary off the fourth ball, making his intentions clear.

Just when the duo seemed to be cruising along comfortably, Pattinson provided the breakthrough when he came back for his second spell by accounting for Pujara.

Pujara fell to an off-cutter in the 29th over after striking six fours in his 76-ball stay at the crease.

With three days left in the game, India will look to come close to the Australian total and then push to seize the initiative.

Earlier, both the openers were out bowled. Vijay was the first to go after a 15-ball stay, which included two fours, done in by Pattinson's pace.

Sehwag quickly followed his partner back to the pavilion, failing to spot a slower one from Pattinson which bounced inside the crease and dislodged the bail of his leg stump.

But Pujara and Tendulkar steadied the rocking boat, bringing up the team's 50 in the 13th over. The two displayed patience but at the same time kept the scoreboard ticking.

They completed a half-century stand for the third wicket in 68 deliveries to rescue India from the precarious position.

Tendulkar was then joined by Kohli, who had a disappointing series against England, unleashed a flurry of shots to announce his return to form.

Earlier, in the morning session, Australian batsmen frustrated Indian bowlers with determined batting before being bowled out for 380 in their first innings.

Resuming at 316 for 7, the visitors resisted the home attack for 38 overs and added 64 runs. They were also helped to an extent by a few decisions that went in their favour much to India's frustration.

Since the last-wicket pair of James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon was at the crease at the official lunch time, the morning session was extended and at the fall of the latter, the break was taken.

Indian off-spinner R Ashwin registered his career-best figures (7/103) while Ravindra Jadeja (2/71) took two wickets.

Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle kept the Indian bowlers at bay for about 90 minutes before the Australian captain went for an extravagant shot off Jadeja, miscued it and gave the hosts a chance to clean up the tail.

Clarke stepped out to loft Jadeja over his head for a straight six but just managed an edge that flew to the hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar at long-off.

Clarke's splendid 130-run captain's knock came off 246 balls with 13 boundaries including one shot over the fence. It also ended 54-run fighting stand between him Siddle (19).

Soon, Harbhajan Singh's long wait to get a wicket ended when he had Siddle caught at first slip.

Playing his 100th Test and going wicket-less on the opening day, it took the off-spinner the last ball of his 24th over to get his first.

There was only frustration for Indian bowlers after that as the last-wicket pair of Pattinson and Lyon batted for another 12 overs.

Ashwin had Lyon plumb in front of the wicket but yet again Dharamsena thought otherwise. However, four balls later, Lyon swept, found an edge and Virat Kohli took an athletic catch at backward short leg to end the Australian innings.

Earlier, neither the spinners nor medium-fast bowlers could trouble the batsmen much until Clarke lost focus and tried to push the accelerator button on.

The chances were far and few as Clarke and Siddle batted with determination. The nearest Clarke came close to getting out was when while coming forward his uppish defensive shot went towards silly point Cheteshwar Pujara, who could not held on to the half-chance.

Then Siddle edged one behind off Harbhajan but that was a tough chance for wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

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‘One day I may wake up to be told of my hanging’

CHENNAI: In the dim-lit visitors' room of Vellore Central Prison are seated two men sentenced to death — one an atheist, the other a spiritual seeker; one fearless and confident of getting reprieve, the other longing to see his daughter and live with his wife.

"I am Perarivalan," says the smiling 41-year-old man in a white shirt, his hair neatly combed back. "There are several men like me in prisons across the world," he says, holding your hand while talking about his 22-year incarceration. "We are victims of a system that hands out disproportionate punishment because we are linked to high-profile cases."

A couple of yards away, Murugan, 43, reaches across the big table to ruffle his mother's hair. The old woman weeps profusely, without making a whimper. "If I escape the noose," says Murugan, who has grown a beard and speaks of repentance and comeuppance in the 'other world,' "I would buy a piece of land at the foothills of a mountain where I would plant 100 flowering plants and medicinal herbs."

The Vellore Central Jail was witness to some poignant moments on Thursday when TOI visited the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts. After Afzal Guru's hanging and the recent rejection of Veerappan aides' mercy petition, the convicts have been eagerly waiting for the Supreme Court's decision on their appeal.

"I know that one day I may wake up to be told about my hanging," says Murugan, the MCA graduate who does the daily puja at an Amman temple in the prison.

Perarivalan, a follower of Periyar, says he keeps himself busy reading, writing and coordinating operations of a jail school.

Shanthan, the other convict in the case is associated with the Sai Baba temple on the premises. "The jail has space for all gods. Here, unlike outside, there is no discrimination on religious or financial grounds," says Perarivalan. He advocates amendments to the Prison Act, 1894 to make jails a place to transform the inmates. Also an MCA graduate, he prepares for an MPhil in computer networking.

Perarivalan, who is charged for his role in procuring materials for the explosive device and visiting Sri Lanka during the conspiracy, was 20 years old when the assassination happened. "As a teenager I had a lot of friends. My dream was to play the Ilayaraja hit 'Ilaya nil' on the guitar," he says. "But I never had the courage to tell a girl that I liked her."

Maintaining he is innocent, he adds, "When my sister was studying in a polytechnic in Vellore, I used to pass by this prison. Never did I think one day I would be inside here." He misses homemade 'chukka roti' and 'sambar' made by his mother Arputhambal, who is now a campaigner against death penalty.

Murugan is worried about his wife Nalini's health. Her death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment. "We meet for 30 minutes, once a fortnight. She suffers from serious digestion problems and is likely to undergo a surgery. She cries a lot," says Murugan, who is charged with conspiracy.

Staring death in the face for more than two decades appears to have brought on them a sense of balance between reconciliation and hope. "After death we all go into a subtle universe where we can wash off the last drop of sin," says Murugan. The atheist Perarivalan is more poetic about the end when he quotes from Thirukkural: "Urangvathu polum saakkadu, urangi vizhipathu polum pirappu (Death is but a sleep, and birth an awakening.)

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Ind vs Aus: Clarke's unbeaten ton takes Australia to 316/7 at stumps on Day 1 of first Test

CHENNAI: Captain Michael Clarke led from the front with a sparkling unbeaten century under pressure as Australia recovered from a precarious position to post a respectable 316 for seven on the opening day of the first Test against India on Friday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Clarke brought up his 23rd Test century off the second last ball of the day hitting left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja towards long-off to remain unbeaten on 103 on a day which saw an engrossing battle between the bat and the ball.

Clarke negated all the good work done by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (6/88) who took all but one among seven wickets that fell on the day at the Chepauk.

Clarke was well-complemented by debutant Moises Henriques (68) as the pair added 147 runs for the sixth wicket after Ashwin's terrific post-lunch spell saw the visitors being reduced to 153 for five.

The Tamil Nadu offie finally broke the partnership by dismissing the impressive Henriques, trapping him leg-before much to the relief of his teammates.

Ashwin, who took his sixth five-wicket haul in Test matches ended with fantastic figures of six for 88 in 30 overs but should consider himself unlucky being robbed off Clarke's wicket due to the absence of Decision Review System (DRS).

The Australian captain was batting on 39 when he offered a simple bat-pad catch to Cheteshwar Pujara at forward short-leg but umpire Kumar Dharmasena turned down the vociferous appeal from the Indians.

The television replays clearly indicated that the ball had hit Clarke's bat before flying off to the close-in fielder. The rival skipper took advantage of the situation and did not look back as he took his team to a position of safety with other Indian bowlers looking pedestrian.

A lot was expected of Harbhajan Singh playing his 100th Test match but the experienced off-spinner went off the boil after the first few overs giving away 71 runs in 19 overs.

Debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performance also left a lot to be desired. With a pace of about 130 kmph, he could hardly pose much problems for Clarke and Henriques.

It was a commendable show by Clarke and Henriques, who were positive to begin with and didn't look like getting bogged down by the bald turner that was on offer.

In all three sessions, the Australian batsmen maintained a decent run-rate despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Opting the bat first, David Warner showed decisive footwork during the first couple of hours as he attacked the Indian spinners Harbhajan and Ashwin. Ed Cowan also looked confident although both the openers got a reprieve in the first hour.

Cowan charged down the track and Dhoni missed a stumping chance while Warner's catch was dropped by Virender Sehwag at the first slip. The bowler on both occasions was Ashwin.

However, the burly home boy had the last laugh against left-hander Cowan (29), who confidently charged down the track to loft Ashwin. The ball turned and bounced as Dhoni whipped the bails off in a flash.

Phil Hughes (6) didn't look comfortable at all during his brief stay and dragged a wide short delivery from Ashwin onto the stumps.

Warner however continued to attack as he completed his 50 off 77 balls with five fours in company of Shane Watson (28).

The duo put on 54 runs for the third wicket as Australia went into lunch at 126 for two.

The first hour in the post-lunch session turned out to be very productive for India as Ashwin dismissed Watson, Warner and Matthew Wade in quick succession as the visitors suffered a mid-innings collapse.

Both Watson and Warner were leg before trying to play deliveries that were skidding and were caught on the backfoot. Warner made 59 off 93 balls with the help of six fours.

But it was skipper Clarke, who responded to the crisis situation as he batted with a lot of authority. His footwork was assured and he decided to wait for the loose deliveries hitting as many as 11 fours and a six.

He drove well and also played the cut shot perfectly. The six off Ashwin over long-on was majestic as it brought up his half century. Clarke also completed 7000 Test runs on the day, when he reached a personal score of 11.

A lot of credit should also be given to Henriques, who showed maturity playing second fiddle to Clarke. He faced 132 deliveries and hit five boundaries in the process. He also ran well between the wickets and proved to be the ideal foil for someone like Clarke, who found the gaps with ease.

Any total in excess of 350 could prove to be challenging for the Indians as the ball is getting roughed up quickly on a bone dry surface.

With three potent quicks in the opposition ranks and two of them being exponents of reverse swing, the Indians will have to be at their best when they get a chance to bat on Saturday.

For the Indian bowlers, Ashwin's performance was the only silver lining as he bowled in excellent areas throughout the day. Had he got a bit of more support from the other end, India might have been able to dismiss Aussies for a far lesser score.

While Harbhajan was again guilty of bowling flat, Jadeja didn't have any variation in his bowling. The Saurashtra all-rounder did get a wicket in the end bowling Mitchell Starc through the gate but by then the visitors had reached a position of safety.

There was little cheer for the opening bowlers too as Bhuvneshwar and Ishant Sharma gave 94 runs in 22 overs bowled between them. Especially, it wasn't a pretty sight to find Dhoni standing upto the stumps to a new ball bowler in the fifth over of the day.

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Parents of drowned sailor of oil tanker ship 'Pratibha Cauvery' commit suicide

CHENNAI: The middle-aged parents of a Pratibha Cauvery sailor who drowned after the ship ran aground off the Chennai coast on October 31 committed suicide by hanging at their residence in Arakkonam on Friday. They left behind a suicide note which blamed the government and the shipping agency for negligence and inaction.

Sailor Niranjan's father K N Kothandapani, 56 and mother S K Bharathi, 50, were found hanging from the same rope, police said. Niranjan was among the five sailors who drowned after they abandoned the ship and their lifeboat capsized near the Besant Nagar beach.

Niranjan's aunt who went to his parents' house early on Friday morning found Kothandapani and Bharathi hanging. They had made nooses on either side of a rope tied to a ceiling fan. On a nearby table was the suicide note Kothandapani had written.

Niranjan's relative Merin, who read the note, said Kothandapani blamed the shipping agency and the government for not taking action against people responsible for his son's death and not reaching out to the family. Arakkonam police sent the bodies to a government hospital in Arakkonam for autopsy. Kothandapani was a farmer and Bharathi a homemaker. Niranjan was their only son.

Pratibha Cauvery, which was near Chennai port strayed after its anchor broke in the gusty winds that preceded Cyclone Nilam on October 31. The captain of the oil tanker ordered the sailors to abandon the ship after it lost anchor and drifted within 50 metres of Besant Nagar beach, where it ran aground and appeared to be in imminent danger of sinking. A sailor said 22 crew members attempted to head for shore in a lifeboat. The overloaded vessel capsized in the choppy waters, which turned into a disaster and five seamen drowned in the sea. Their bodies were recovered from the sea shore a couple of days later.

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Hina Rabbani Khar's 'baby': Tony eatery with an eclectic menu

ISLAMABAD: The ambience at the Polo Lounge is serene and reeks of old money, a lot like its owner, some would say. After all, the fine-dining restaurant is Hina Rabbani Khar's 'baby'. On the menu are steak, prawn and lobster - quite fittingly "foreign" for an eatery owned by Pakistan's foreign minister.

An outdoor restaurant with spectacular views of the Margalla Hills in Islamabad's upmarket Saidpur Village, the Lounge attracts the who's who of the capital city. It's the second in a chain of restaurants started by Khar, who has a degree in hospitality management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The first Polo Lounge came up at a polo club in Lahore 11 years ago. Khar's businessman husband Feroze Gulzar is a polo aficionado.

The restaurant bears the aristocratic stamp of Khar, who comes from a wealthy, land-owning family. These days, though, the business is more or less run by her partner Asma Ramday, daughter-in-law of a retired supreme court judge. "I've been busy," Khar explained to a journalist once. Yes, she chose the interiors, including the furniture and the paint. "But a restaurant is a 24-hour job and my poor partner has been running the show. I will make up for it when I get the time."

That's modest, considering the Islamabad branch owes its existence to Khar. Polo Lounge was one of the many businesses which responded to an advertisement put out by Islamabad's civic body, Capital Development Authority, in May 2008, inviting investors to set up businesses at the remodelled Saidpur Village. Those interested were required to apply by June 9, 2008. But, said a CDA official, Polo Lounge's application, pinned with the official visiting card of Hina R Khar, landed in the office of CDA's chairman on August 13, 2008.

A month later, CDA's offer letter was on its way to the management of Polo Lounge in Lahore, he said. At that time, Khar was minister for economic affairs.

A senior CDA official said that had the sites for restaurants in the village been auctioned instead of being leased out, the civic body would have earned at least 10 times more. Polo Lounge's monthly lease payment is around $1,190 - modest considering the market value of the place.

But, such instances hardly raise eyebrows here; using one's name to make big bucks wouldn't even fall in the ambit of dishonesty by Pakistani standards. In a country where big-ticket corruption is rampant, Khar enjoys the reputation of being 'Ms Clean'. No major scam has been unearthed against her since she joined the government as minister of state for economic affairs under Musharraf's military regime a decade ago. One of the country's richest ministers, she paid only $720 in taxes last year. In Pakistan, this is par for the course.

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Kohinoor is ours, won't be returned, British PM David Cameron tells India

AMRITSAR: British Prime Minister David Cameron says a giant diamond his country forced India to hand over in the colonial era that was set in a royal crown will not be returned.

Speaking on the third and final day of a visit to India aimed at drumming up trade and investment, Cameron ruled out handing back the 105-carat Kohinoor diamond, now on display in the Tower of London. The diamond had been set in the crown of the current Queen Elizabeth's late mother.

One of the world's largest diamonds, some Indians - including Mahatma Gandhi's grandson - have demanded its return to atone for Britain's colonial past.

"I don't think that's the right approach," Cameron told reporters on Wednesday after becoming the first serving British prime minister to voice regret about one of the bloodiest episodes in colonial India, a massacre of unarmed civilians in the city of Amritsar in 1919.

"It is the same question with the Elgin Marbles," he said, referring to the classical Greek marble sculptures that Athens has long demanded be given back.

"The right answer is for the British Museum and other cultural institutions to do exactly what they do, which is to link up with other institutions around the world to make sure that the things which we have and look after so well are properly shared with people around the world.

"I certainly don't believe in 'returnism', as it were. I don't think that's sensible."

Britain's then colonial governor-general of India arranged for the huge diamond to be presented to Queen Victoria in 1850.

If Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, eventually becomes queen consort she will don the crown holding the diamond on official occasions.

When Elizabeth II made a state visit to India to mark the 50th anniversary of India's independence from Britain in 1997, many Indians demanded the return of the diamond.

Cameron is keen to tap into India's economic rise, but says he is anxious to focus on the present and future rather than "reach back" into the past.

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Serial bomb blasts rock Hyderabad, 15 feared dead

HYDERABAD: A series of powerful bombs ripped through a market place in Hyderabad on Thursday evening killing 15 people and injuring up to fifty as per initial reports.

The blasts took near a bus stand in the Dilsukh Nagar area. The area is a busy and crowded part of the city.

Intelligence Bureau told Times Now that they are not ruling out any possibilities.

The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals.

More details are awaited.

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Strike turns violent in UP, vehicles set on fire in Noida

LUCKNOW: The two-day nationwide strike called by Central trade unions disrupted normal life in many states on Wednesday leaving commuters in the lurch.

Violence erupted in some places on the first day of a two-day strike as workers, angry about high fuel prices in particular, tried to keep vehicles off the roads.

The strike turned violent in Noida in Uttar Pradesh, adjoining Delhi, after angry workers protested in Noida Phase II. They pelted stones at some factories and burnt vehicles, including a fire engine. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the restive crowd.

At least one factory complex was also torched, officials and witnesses said. Glass panes in many factories were shattered even as the security guards tried to pacify the mobs and later fired in the air, a police official said.

A hosiery unit in Noida was ransacked, police sources said.

Roadways buses remained off roads and bank branches were closed in support of the strike call, adversely affecting normal life since morning.

Reports from different parts of the state said employees of various government departments and banks assembled at their respective offices and held protest meetings raising slogans in support of their demands.

Commuters were left stranded, and overcrowding was reported at railway stations. Following this, the state government pressed 200 buses into service at the Kumbh in Allahabad.

The state government had made alternative arrangements like pressing private buses into service, but these were not enough to clear the office rush and people had to depend either on private vehicles or autorickshaws to reach their destinations.

In the state capital, all the major offices have remained shut with employees also taking out protest marches.

The bandh was total in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Unnao, Moradabad and Allahabad.

Major markets in Lucknow like Aminabad and Hazratganj were deserted, and operations at post offices and state-run banks were disrupted.

Banking, transport services hit

Normal banking operations were hit today as employees of public sector banks went on a two-day strike in response to a call given by central trade unions to press for wage hike in the backdrop of rising inflation.

The nationwide strike call has been given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), consisting of nine national level unions, including AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF, NOBW and AIBOC.

Apprehending disruption in their normal banking operations, many banks had already informed their customers about the proposed strike.

Meanwhile, sources said, banks have taken steps to ensure that public do not face problems at least on the cash front during the strike period.

Banks have fed additional cash in ATMs to meet the cash needs of their customers.

Bank unions are pressing for early wage revision of employees, which they said is due from November 2012. They are also opposing banking sector reforms and any plan for merger of banks.

There are 26 public sector banks with employees strength of around 10 lakh.

In December 2012 also, four bank unions went on strike opposing amendments carried out in Banking Regulation Act and Banking Companies Act, enabling foreign equity in public sector banks.

The bank strike is part of a general strike call given by 11 central trade unions including Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh ( BMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India United Trade Union Centre.

Trade union leader killed in Ambala

A trade union leader, who was squatting along with a group of workers near the local bus depot as part of the two-day nationwide strike call, on Wednesday died when he was hit by a bus in his bid to stop it from plying, a senior Roadways official said here.

"The incident took place around 4 am this morning when Narender Singh, a bus driver by profession, tried to stop the vehicle which was being taken out from the Ambala Depot despite the strike," district president, Haryana Roadways Workers Union's, Inder Singh Bhadana told reporters here.

Bhadana alleged that the district administration tried to forcibly ply the bus, which hit Singh, who was also the treasurer of a AITUC union, killing him on the spot.

After the incident, the other workers resorted to violence damaging vehicles belonging to the Ambala's Deputy Commissioner of Police and SHO of the Baldev police station area, police said.

Meanwhile, Bhadana demanded a case to be lodged against the General Manager of the Roadways, failing which they will not allow the body to be cremated.

In view of the tense situation, heavy police force had been deployed at the bus depot and its surrounding areas.

Earlier, however, AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said that the victim was allegedly stabbed to death by some miscreants.

Financial sector crippled as shutdown starts in Mumbai

India's financial sector was crippled on Wednesday after all banks, insurance companies and commercial establishments in this commercial capital remained shut on the first of the two-day nationwide strike, organisers said.

"The banking and financial sector is 100 percent closed, not only in Mumbai and Maharashtra but all over the country," All India Bank Employees Association vice-president V Utagi told IANS.

Utagi said all banks -- nationalised, private, foreign, regional, rural and cooperative -- had "wholeheartedly" participated in the strike.

Trains, road services hit in Bihar

Thousands of people were stranded across Bihar on Wednesday as trains were stopped and key highways blocked by activists affiliated to various trade unions that have called for a nationwide two-day strike.

Workers of trade unions stopped nearly a dozen passenger and long-distance trains at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Hajipur, Bhagalpur and Darbhanga railway stations.

Strike hits normal life in Kerala

The 48-hour nationwide strike called by central trade unions hit normal life across Kerala today with workers from varied sectors, including transport and banking, staying away from work to protest the UPA government's economic and labour policies.

Early reports said buses and taxis were off the roads and shops and restaurants remained closed. Train services were not affected.

The Congress-led UDF government has declared 'dies non' (no work, no pay) as pro-Left service and teachers unions are also striking work.

Security has been tightened and no violence has been reported from anywhere. Police have offered protection to those willing to work and public conveyances ready to ply, police sources said.

West Bengal partially hit by strike

Life was partially affected in West Bengal on the first day today of the two-day countrywide strike called by central trade unions with the situation remaining peaceful.

Shops, markets and business establishments were closed in many parts of the metropolis, while government run buses and trams ran in large numbers in comparison to private buses and taxis, which were less.

Banking operations remained paralysed in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that attendance at the Writers' Buildings was 100 per cent.

Finance Mitra Amit Mitra also said that his department registered 100 per cent attendance.

Many government employees stayed overnight in their offices.

Partial impact to strike call in Tamil Nadu

The strike call given by 11 trade unions country wide had partial impact in Tamil Nadu as a majority of shops remained open and transport services plied normally.

However, banking services were hit hard as most public and private sector banks remained closed.

The United Form of Bank Unions, an association representing the banking community, had said it would join the strike call given by the Trade Unions.

City buses and auto-rickshaws plied as usual. Partial inter-city services were operated from Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, sources said.

Members of agitating workers union including CITU and all India Bank Employees Association staged a demonstration in Chennai as part of the strike call.

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Shah Rukh looks beyond Juhi's brother

He replaces Juhi's brother from the CEO's post of his company with KKR MD Venky Mysore.

In a difficult business decision, Shah Rukh Khan has replaced Bobby Chawla from the post of the CEO of his production house with Venky Mysore, who is the CEO and MD of Kolkata Knight Riders.

The announcement was made through a press statement which said: "Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt Ltd announced today that Venky Mysore has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer. He will take full responsibility for all the operations of the production house. In addition he will continue in his role as CEO and MD of the Kolkata Knight Riders."

The press release has no mention of Bobby or his future association with the company.

Bobby, who is the brother of Shah Rukh's colleague and close friend Juhi Chawla, has been in a state of coma since April 2010 and all this while Shah Rukh had stuck to his guns about not dropping Bobby from the CEO's post. However, with Red Chillies expanding its business manifold in leaps and bounds in the last few years, it had become imperative to appoint a hands-on CEO.

While spokesperson from the company said that "all due process" has been observed while taking the call, sources close to Juhi claimed that she had no clue of this sudden change. It was Bobby's relentless efforts that helped Red Chillies become the country's premiere production house and he also played a major role in acquiring Kolkata Knight Riders for Shah Rukh Khan.

In mid-January, when TOI last checked with Shah Rukh's office, it was told that Bobby will continue as the CEO of Red Chillies and that his work is being shared among senior members of management team.

According to sources, the decision to replace Bobby was taken in the first week of February and although Shah Rukh is concerned and pained with Bobby's situation, it was unavoidable as the workload was increasing each day and the company was unable to perform to its best with an in absentia CEO.

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Jallianwala Bagh massacre 'deeply shameful', says British PM Cameron

AMRITSAR: British PM David Cameron on Wednesday described the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar as "a deeply shameful event in British history", becoming the first serving prime minister to voice regret about one of the British Empire's bloodiest episodes in India.

He, however, just fell short of an apology but made clear that he considered the episode a stain on Britain's history that needed to be regretted by a democratically elected government of the UK.

"This was a deeply shameful event in British history - one that Winston Churchill rightly described at that time as monstrous" the left-handed Cameron wrote in the visitor's notebook at the massacre site.

His note further read: "We must never forget what happened here", underlining the word never twice.

"And in remembering we must ensure that the UK stands up for the right of peaceful protest around the world" it said.

The gesture came on the third and final day of his visit to India aimed at drumming up trade and investment.

Just minutes before he wrote the telling remarks, he told a few journalists: "it was a terrible act".

He also laid a wreath on the memorial site and then gently walked towards the table where visitor's notebook was kept.

His remarks are likely to be seen as an attempt to improve relations with India and to woo around 1.5 million British voters of Indian origin ahead of a 2015 election.

Cameron's visit has been largely focused on trade and investment so far.

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Salman Khan chased by 20 bikers in Hyderabad

Crazy fans literally chased Salman Khan in Hyderabad on Sunday night. The actor's car was followed by about 20 bikers, all the way from Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium to his hotel. Salman had gone to the city to watch a CCL match between his brother Sohail Khan's Mumbai Heroes and the Telugu Warriors.

According to an eyewitness, after the match got over around 11 pm, Salman walked to his car, parked right outside the stadium's gate.

To facilitate his exit, traffic was blocked and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor were pushed aside. Some even started following Salman's car, forcing the police to lathi-charge them. But the trouble didn't end there. About 20-odd bikers (some bikes even had three passengers) started following him. They rode close to the car and kept knocking at the window. A source said, "Salman was very upset with the way people behaved. He was concerned that there could've been an accident."

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