Indians divided over Husain's Qatari citizenship
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Should Maqbool Fida Husain, who put the Indian contemporary art on the world map, have given up Indian citizenship? The artistic community is sharply divided.

While some feel that he should not have left India, others contend that he wanted to put the past behind him and find a new home before he dies.

The 95-year-old painter met Deepa Wadhwa, India's ambassador to Qatar, Sunday and surrendered his Indian passport. ... Read More

Andhra opposition protests with lanterns
Hyderabad, March 9 (IANS) Legislators from opposition parties came to the Andhra Pradesh assembly Tuesday with lanterns to protest against a severe electricity shortage in the state.

Led by former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, legislators of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) staged the protest with lanterns and dummy transformers at Gun Park opposite the assembly building.

They later marched to the assembly and raised ... Read More

Court permits Rahul Mahajan to visit Maldives
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) A city court Tuesday allowed Rahul Mahajan to leave the country to go on a honeymoon with his newly wedded wife.

Special judge J.P.S. Malik granted Rahul the permission and released his passport. But he will need to furnish a surety bond of Rs.500,000 and register his marriage within two months.

Clad in a blue shirt, Rahul who was in the court, appeared pleased with the decision.

He married ... Read More

Delhi, Mumbai airports soon to have chopper corridors
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Delhi and Mumbai airports will soon get dedicated chopper corridors that would lessen aerial congestion, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Tuesday.

"We have already asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to design the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for helicopter routes for Delhi and Mumbai airports," the DGCA said in a statement.

Delhi and Mumbai have the highest density of chopper operations.

DGCA chief S.N.A Zaidi had ... Read More

CDs were fabricated, doctored, says Dhumal
Shimla, March 9 (IANS) A raging controversy over the audio CDs got a new twist Tuesday with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal announcing in the state assembly that they were fabricated and doctored.

"A CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) report shows discontinuity, editing, modification with alterations. Discontinuity was observed at five instances in one CD and three in the second CD," Dhumal said while replying on the motion of thanks on the governor's address. ... Read More

Honeymoon should not be televised, court tells Rahul Mahajan
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) A city court Tuesday allowed Rahul Mahajan to leave the country on a honeymoon with his newly wedded wife but imposed a condition that the trip will not be telecast on any reality show.

Special judge J.P.S. Malik granted Rahul the permission and released his passport after he furnished a fixed deposit of Rs.500,000 alongwith a personal bond.

"Rahul will also give an undertaking that he shall get the marriage registered ... Read More

Dozen 'Indian Idol' aspirants injured
Noida, March 9 (IANS) Over a dozen people were injured here Tuesday when thousands of boys and girls gathered for the audition of music reality show "Indian Idol" rushed into the venue causing a stampede, police said.

The incident occurred at Expo Mart in Sector 62 when the candidates who had been waiting outside poured into the venue when its gates were opened.

It led to chaos. Many fell over one another, a policeman said. In ... Read More

I'm a big fan of Shah Rukh: Akon
By Dibyojyoti Baksi

Mumbai, March 9 (IANS) International R&B singer Akon, who is here to record songs for Shah Rukh Khan's film "Ra.One", says he is a big fan of the Bollywood superstar and that he will not only have shows in India during his world tour but would also do more work here soon.

"I am a big fan of Shah Rukh. I am very familiar with Shah Rukh's work. I am meeting Kareena (Kapoor) for ... Read More