Talks with Pak will depend on circumstances: Khurshid
New Delhi: India on Friday reacted with caution to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s invitation to engage in a comprehensive and sustained dialogue, saying it will depend on circumstances which have to be considered “thoughtfully”. “They must have sent an invite which will go to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will apply his mind. It will all depend on the circumstances which have to be considered thoughtfully,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters here on the sidelines of a function here. Sharif had on Wednesday invited India to engage in a “comprehensive, sustained and result-oriented” dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. “I invite India for a comprehensive, sustained and result-oriented” dialogue for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, Sharif had said while addressing a joint session of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s assembly. Noting that circumstances had led India to suspend dialogue with Pakistan, Khurshid said, “Circumstances must be befitting to be revived”. Though relations have improved “undoubtedly”, there is still a lot of work to be done, he said. “I believe my colleague Anand Sharma is going to Pakistan on trade talks. Let me see what happens,” Khurshid said. (PTI)
Snap ties with RSS if want to connect to Muslims: Cong to Modi
New Delhi: As BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi reaches out to Muslims through a business conclave for them in Gujarat, Congress on Friday said if he is really keen on taking everyone along, then he should severe ties with RSS. Rubbishing BJP’s attempts to woo Muslim community, Law Minister Kapil Sibal said BJP seemingly has “one face for the elections while there are various other faces working behind the scene.” “If they want to take everyone along, then they should change their policies. Modi should say he has no links with RSS,” Sibal told reporters. Modi inaugurated a three-day business conclave in Ahmedabad today, to provide a platform for Muslim entrepreneurs to network with their Hindu counterparts. To buttress its points that “BJP has many faces” Sibal cited the controversial interview of Swami Aseemanand, an accused in the Samjhauta Express and other blast cases, in which he claimed that the RSS had “sanctioned” the terror acts. (PTI)
Rahul interacts with tribal women in Jharkhand
Ranchi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday held an interaction with tribal women in Jharkhand who urged him that they should get proper representation in Parliament and Assembly elections. “Women should get proper representation in Parliament and Assembly elections,” a woman told reporters after the interaction at a hotel here. “All of us also told Rahul that we would like to see him as the Prime Minister,” a woman told reporters after the interaction at a hotel here. Another woman said, “We told him about protection of women’s rights from the grassroots level.” She quoted Rahul as saying women should come forward in politics in large numbers. “Rahul also said Congress has old ties with tribals, who have made a large contribution to development programmes,” she said. “Food Security Act will also benefit the tribals,” said another woman quoting him. She said that Rahul was urged to ensure strict implementation of the Panchayat Raj Act (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) in Jharkhand. The interaction was not open to the media. Earlier, after arriving Rahul garlanded the statue of Birsa Munda at the Birsa Chowk. (PTI)
Woman clinically declared dead wakes up at cremation
Varanasi: An elderly woman, who was declared clinically dead, woke up when she was being taken for her last rites in Chaubeypur area of the Uttar Pradesh city. The bizarre incident took place at Dhaurhara village on Thursday, when Murari Devi (70) was declared dead. The family members apprised about the woman’s demise to their relatives and neighbours, sources on Friday said. Surprisingly, the woman’s body showed a movement and she started talking. The elderly even expressed anger on the family for declaring her dead. The incident left everyone astonished. (UNI)
Over 23,000 rape cases pending HCs; 309 in apex court
New Delhi: Nearly 24,000 rape cases are pending in various high courts of the country while more than 8000 of them have been disposed of in the last three years, government said on Friday. As on December 31, 2013, 309 cases related to sexual harassment, kidnapping abduction were pending in the Supreme Court, while 687 similar cases were disposed of between 2011-13 by the apex court. Law Minister Kapil Sibal informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that 23,792 cases related to rape were pending in 21 high courts as on September 30, 2012. He said, between October, 2009 and September, 2012, 8,772 cases were disposed of by the high courts. In the Delhi High Court, where 924 cases related to rape were pending till the end of September, 2012, disposed of 1135 cases. (PTI)