I don't want my illness to define me: Manisha Koirala

Actress Manisha Koirala, who has successfully fought cancer, says life has become more precious now but she does not want the illness to define her.

The 44-year-old actress, who is best known for her unconventional roles in films like 'Bombay', 1942- A Love Story' and 'Dil Se', was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years back.

She, however, has overcome the disease. Stating that life has become more beautiful after the illness, Koirala told PTI: "I have touched death with my illness. That phase has changed me. Today, every sunset, every handshake is valuable for me. But I do not want that to define me. I don't want my illness to become social conversation."

Now the actress has become a crusader for those who suffer from cancer by creating awareness about the disease. "There is a big psychological pressure when you have cancer. There is always this fear of the disease coming back. If my position of being a celebrity helps the cause, I would surely do my bit.

"Fear exists every day of my life, but that has never stopped me from facing my demons. I want the cancer survivors, especially the women to stare back and 'own up' rather than 'give up'. Let us not make cancer a life and death situation," Manisha said.

The actress shared that she is writing a book on her life and has also developed a keen interest in painting. "I am working on my book that will detail the crucial events in my life, and most importantly what I have taken from those events. It will be about how I see life now," she said. "I am also working on my NGO and have discovered the joy of painting."

Manisha, who hails from Nepal made her debut in Bollywood with 1991 film 'Saudagar' and went on to work with directors like Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raj Kumar Santoshi. Now that she is back in Mumbai post her US treatment, the actress is game for more offers, provided she gets powerful roles.

"I love cinema. Acting is not just a pursuit for me, so I want the kind of work that can utilise that capacity in me. I do not want to end up disappointing my fans," Manisha said, adding she is reading scripts but nothing substantial has come so far. Manisha said she was ready to work on the small screen if she got challenging offers.

BJP's first list of LS poll nominees likely on Feb 27: Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: BJP is likely to come out with its first list of Lok Sabha candidates on February 27 when the party's top leadership discusses the possible candidates at a meeting of the Central Election Committee here.

"First election comm(ittee) meeting is on 27th February," BJP leader Arun Jaitley said on twitter, adding that "hopefully that day" the party will come out with its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.

Senior party leaders, including L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi besides others, who are part of the panel, will meet here to discuss and finalise the party's list of candidates.

Sources said the party will finalise the seats for its top leaders and some seats where the candidates are strong and there is no dispute on them.

Interacting with the public on social networking site Twitter, Jaitley also answered a host of queries posed to him where he expressed the hope that some expansion of NDA allies was possible but BJP was aiming to achieve the 272-plus figure and claimed it was close to it.

"With two months to go for elections, we are very close to achieving Mission 272+. Some expansion of allies possible," he said in another reply on Twitter.

Jaitley also said the party would get a "record number" of seats in Uttar Pradesh and "certainly double digit and may be a lot more" in West Bengal.

The Leader of Opposition did not favour the Presidential form of governance in the country, saying it is "unsuitable for India" and said regional, religious, caste & linguistic groups all find representation in parliament in the current form of governance".

Not favouring state-funded elections, he said India needs a transparent political funding and said "state-funding alone is no guarantee that other funds will not be used in elections".

He said BJP was contesting elections on three issues of "Economy, Security & Probity". He also said BJP supports the idea of a National Judicial Commission.

To a question on Aam Aadmi Party, Jaitley said "AAP ran the worst possible government. He is deflecting issues from his own failure."

In another tweet, he said "AAP's 49-day government in Delhi is the best reason why people should not vote for AAP."

He hoped to reach out to people through rallies, door-to- door campaign, literature, social media. On corruption, he said "the NDA will have a strong leader who can take action against the corrupt. UPA didn't."

Jaitley interacted with the public for 90 minutes today and answered a host of queries posed to him. This is his second such interaction.

"With two months to go for elections, we are very close to achieving Mission 272+. Some expansion of allies possible," he said in another reply on Twitter.

Jaitley also said the party would get a "record number" of seats in Uttar Pradesh and "certainly double digit and may be a lot more" in West Bengal.

The Leader of Opposition did not favour the Presidential form of governance in the country, saying it is "unsuitable for India" and said regional, religious, caste & linguistic groups all find representation in parliament in the current form of governance".

Not favouring state-funded elections, he said India needs a transparent political funding and said "state-funding alone is no guarantee that other funds will not be used in elections".

He said BJP was contesting elections on three issues of "Economy, Security & Probity". He also said BJP supports the idea of a National Judicial Commission.

To a question on Aam Aadmi Party, Jaitley said "AAP ran the worst possible government. He is deflecting issues from his own failure."

In another tweet, he said "AAP's 49-day government in Delhi is the best reason why people should not vote for AAP."

He hoped to reach out to people through rallies, door-to- door campaign, literature, social media. On corruption, he said "the NDA will have a strong leader who can take action against the corrupt. UPA didn't."

Jaitley interacted with the public for 90 minutes today and answered a host of queries posed to him. This is his second such interaction.

Send back prisoners who have completed term: Pakistan to India

Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday asked India to repatriate all its nationals who have completed their prison sentences on humanitarian grounds following the alleged suicide of a Pakistani prisoner in Jammu jail. The Foreign Ministry said the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi has been asked to submit a report on the alleged suicide by 42-year-old Showkat Ali.

"This is an issue we have raised earlier too. All prisoners who have completed their term should be sent back on humanitarian grounds," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said.

She said the issue of prisoners on both sides should be handled in a humanitarian manner. "We have asked our High Commission in New Delhi to let us know what exactly happened and if it is a suicide what led him to do so. Our mission is in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson," she said.

According to the Jammu police, Ali, who hailed from Sialkot in Punjab province, ended his life late last night by hanging himself from an iron grille inside his barracks.

He had been lodged in the jail since 2011. An inquiry by a magistrate has been ordered into the alleged suicide and Ali's body was sent to a government hospital for autopsy.

The body would be handed over to Pakistani authorities after legal formalities are completed, police said. Since December 2013, two Indian prisoners have died in jails in Karachi.

According to lists exchanged on January 1 between the two countries, there are 281 Indian prisoners in Pakistan while 396 Pakistani prisoners are in Indian jails.

RSS has foisted Narendra Modi on BJP: Congress

New Delhi: Attacking Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its PM candidate Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anand Sharma on Saturday accused them of indulging in divisive politics.

“He (Narendra Modi) isn't a man of substance, he doesn't know how to keep this bouquet called India together,” Sharma said.

"Due to the Bangladeshi people and incorrect governance, the people of the northeastern states are in trouble. But due to governance in Gujarat, Pakistan is now in awkward position," the Gujarat chief minister said at a 'Naba Chetana' (fresh consciousness) rally in Agartala today.

On Modi's comment that he had never before seen such a crowd in Assam while working as a RSS worker in almost all districts of the state, Sharma said, “RSS has foisted Modi on BJP, I have condolences with their party members.(sic)”

“Earlier, as a RSS worker I had worked in almost all districts of Assam and organised many events but never did I see such a crowd before, “ the BJP's PM candidate said.

"Yeh to abhi aandhi hai, election aate aate yeh Tsunami me badal jayegi aur Congress ka namo nishan mita degi (this is just a storm now but by the time elections come, it will turn into a tsunami and wipe out the existence of the Congress)," he added.

Further, reacting over the today's remarks made by senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Sharma said, “BJP paralysed Parliament, they should introspect, they opposed every commendable initiation of ours.”

Calling Rahul Gandhi a late entrant on the anti-corruption plank, the BJP today said Rahul should have spoken on the issue much earlier.

Alleging that the Congress-led UPA government's mindset has led to a "decay" of key institutions including Parliament, BJP today said it poses a serious issue before the next Lok Sabha as it is threatening the survival of democracy in the country.

Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said, "He (Rahul) is a late entrant and he should have spoken on the anti-graft bills much earlier."

Earlier, Sharma lashed out at those who charged the Congress with dynasty politics, saying, for 30 years there hasn't been a Prime Minister from the Gandhi-Nehru family.

“Dynasties don't have a hiatus or rupture of three decades. Manmohan is the third longest serving Prime Minister. After 30 years, it's unfair to say there's dynastic politics in the Congress,” he had said.

Army apprehends increased infiltration attempts in Kashmir

Srinagar: Army apprehends increased infiltration attempts by militants in Kashmir in view of the "depleting" militant leadership and upcoming elections but is prepared to meet any challenge, including possible influx of Taliban fighters from Afghanistan.

"There will be attempts to infiltrate by militants due to elimination of the leadership (of militants) but I am prepared," General Officer Commanding of the Army's 15 Corps Lt General Gurmit Singh told reporters here on Saturday.

He said the success of the counter-infiltration grid was evident last year as several militants were eliminated along the Line of Control.

Asked about the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the officer said, "We will be very concerned about providing a secure environment" for the election process.

The Corps Commander evaded a direct reply when asked if the pullout of US troops from Afghanistan can lead to influx of Taliban fighters in Kashmir.

He, however, said the security grid in the Valley was ready for any eventuality.

"There are regional dynamics of the security situation. The counter-infiltration grid is in place and we are ready for it. As a security force, I got to be ready for any security challenge. And for that assessment of the threat and preparedness are important dynamic," he added.

Lt Gen Singh said the militant activity in the beginning of this year was higher in the Valley compared to last year.

"The first terrorist elimination last year took place in April but this year it started on January 7. So far, we have eliminated 24 terrorists -- 11 killed and 13 apprehended," he said.

He said all the apprehended militants were locals as Army was giving them all possible opportunity to surrender. "We don't fire at them till they fire on us."

Panel to determine contribution of secular parties: Bukhari

New Delhi: An eleven-member committee will determine the contribution of "secular" political parties for the upliftment of Muslim community ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Bukhari said on Saturday.

In a meeting of 500 delegates convened here on Saturday, it was decided that a committee would be constituted which would assess the condition of Muslims in terms of employment, reservation and educational facilities across the country.

The eleven-member committee will also look to what extent the promises made by "secular parties" for development of the minority have been fulfilled in order to decide their next course of action in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Talking about the issue of Muzaffarnagar riots which was raised in the 'Representative Convention of Muslims', Bukhari said, "when SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said that Muzaffarnagar riots were a result of sectarian politics then why did the UP government not agree to a CBI inquiry?"

"The delegation considers it as a ploy to save the BJP and all other sectarian forces," he said.

Calling BJP and SP as two sides of the same coin, he said, "When BJP President Rajnath Singh fought elections, no candidate was fielded against him by SP. When Dimple Yadav stood for elections from Kannauj both Congress and BJP did not field a candidate against her."

"With no real alternative, the Muslim community must come together and emerge as a strong political force," he said.

The delegation also discussed how the Congress party has "bruised" the community and ruled out 'absolute' support to the party in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

On being asked about extending support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said it was on the agenda of their meeting and the community should not vote for the party.

"AAP has been vocal about corruption. But corruption does not divide the country, communal political does. We need parties to focus on rooting out communal forces," he said.

AAP failed to serve people, it's not Congress' fault: Shinde

Solapur: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday said Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could not use the opportunity to govern for solving people's problems.

"Congress had supported Kejriwal government (in Delhi)...But AAP could not use the opportunity (to solve Delhi citizens' problems). It is not Congress's fault," Shinde said while talking to reporters here.

Asked about the FIR filed by the Kejriwal government against industrialist Mukesh Ambani and others over the gas price rise issue, Shinde said Delhi Police would investigate the complaint.

EC to keep strict vigil against misuse of money during polls

New Delhi: After huge cash interceptions and seizure of Rs 215 crore of unaccounted money during previous Assembly polls, the Election Commission has put in place an expenditure monitoring mechanism for curbing misuse of money power during general elections.

Noting that money-power creates an uneven playing field and lack of fair competition where certain sections are put to disadvantage while undermining the law, the EC has deployed nodal officers in each state who will coordinate with EC.

The Commission also held a meeting on February 13 of all nodal officers for expenditure monitoring, excise, income tax and police departments alongwith that in the office of Chief Electoral Officer in states to ensure coordination to help curb use of money power.

The EC stressed on interpersonal communication through state/Government of India units of Income Tax to track illegal cash, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to track drugs, Enforcement Directorate to track foreign Exchange, Police Department and Excise Department of the respective states to check other crimes related to bribery, terror, theft, narcotics, illegal liquor and abuse of money power in poll involving a candidate, his agent or any political party.

"A strict vigil is maintained over the movement of cash through airports/airstrips/Helipads and a standard operating procedure (SOP) has been developed and implemented by the Bureau of Civil Aviation in consultation with the Commission," the EC said.

While CISF keeps strict vigil at airports of states to stop illegal movement of cash/bullion involving any candidate, his agent or any political party, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has been asked to operate Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) in all airports till the end of polls so as to keep track of and report of any illegal cash movement.

The EC has also asked Centre's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to provide real time information on suspicious cash transactions in banks and to keep a close watch on withdrawal of cash exceeding the specified limits from bank accounts.

At present, a candidate or his agent can carry cash up to Rs 50,000 but for anything above it he will be held for questioning and is liable for seizure. The public can, however, carry cash but should be able to explain the purpose of the cash when questioned.

The BSF and SSB have been requested to keep strict vigil over movement of illegal items and cash meant to influence voters through international borders.

The EC said cases of candidates, who have not filed correct election expenditure statements, have been processed for disqualification under Section 10A of the R.P. Act, 1951.

As part of the election expenditure monitoring, the poll body has sought opening of a separate bank account by each contesting candidate for incurring all major election expenses through cheque or demand draft drawn on this bank account only.

It has also set up a complaint-monitoring cell in each district with round-the-clock toll free number to receive complaint from the public.

It has also set up flying squads, quick response teams, static surveillance teams headed by Executive Magistrates in each constituency to track illegal cash transaction or any distribution liquor or any items for bribing or inducement of voters and to attend to all complains of election expenditure.

All airports in the state, major railway stations, hotels, farm houses, 'hawala' agents, financial brokers, cash couriers, pawn brokers and other suspicious agencies or persons engaged in movement of cash are to be kept under close surveillance by the Income Tax Department and necessary action to be taken as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act.

Marines case: Law Ministry concurs with MEA

New Delhi: In a fresh development in the Italian marines case, the Law Ministry on Saturday concurred with the External Affairs Ministry on non-applicability of a controversial anti-piracy law which is being strongly contested by the Italian government.

The Law Ministry is of the view that the Suppression of Unlawful Acts (SUA) against the safety of Maritime Navigation should not apply in the case against the two Italian marines who have been accused of killing two Indian fishermen two years ago, sources said.
This view, which concurs with that of the External Affairs Ministry, was conveyed to the Home Ministry on Saturday, the sources added. The ball is now in the court of the Home Ministry.
The development assumes significance as the Law Ministry has given its view just two days ahead of the hearing in the Supreme Court which had asked the government to sort out differences on applicability of SUA.
During the last hearing on February 18, Attorney General G E Vahanvati told the Supreme Court that the government is waiting for the Law Ministry's opinion on the issue.
The Italian government is strongly contesting the applicability of SUA.
In a petition in the SC, it has argued that invoking of SUA "would tantamount to the Republic of Italy being termed a terrorist state and acts of its organs, which were in repression of piracy, as being deemed as acts of terrorism, which is wholly untenable and unacceptable in the facts and circumstances of this case and in keeping with the comity of nations and international cooperation".
The case pertains to the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by Latorre and Girone on board 'Enrica Lexie' off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.
The two officers contended that they had apprehended a piracy attack. The marines were arrested on February 19, 2012.

BJP set to emerge as single largest party in LS polls: Survey

New Delhi: BJP is likely to emerge as the single largest party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls with 217 seats while Congress will be reduced to about 73 seats, an opinion poll has predicted.

According to the survey conducted by a news channel, BJP would get 217 seats and NDA is likely to get 236 seats.

Interestingly, it points out that NDA has gained 10 seats more as compared to the opinion poll conducted in January this year.

Congress, which came out with flying colours in the last General Elections, would be confined to 73 seats, while the fledging AAP is likely to get around 10 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, the opinion poll predicted.

It (Congress) is expected to fare better only in the south even as AAP, a debutante in Lok Sabha polls, is likely win seats in north India.

As far as the choice of prime ministerial candidate was concerned, Modi, backed by over 57 per cent respondents, appears to be leading when compared with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who has scored 18 per cent.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was preferred by just three per cent respondents, the opinion poll said.

The opinion poll conducted between February 4 and 15 further predicts that the federal front would beat the UPA with around 186 seats.

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) would secure 29 seats, followed by AIADMK with 19 and BJD is expected to win on 16 seats, it claimed.

Respondents have identified inflation as a major issue, which affects people the most in their day to day life.

Corruption has been the second biggest problem, noticed by 34 per cent respondents and 18 per cent feel unemployment a major problem.

Modi playing polarisation politics in Northeast: Sharma

New Delhi: Rejecting Narendra Modi's contention that Hindu migrants from Bangladesh must be accommodated in the country while "infiltrators" must be sent back, Congress on Saturday said the Gujarat Chief Minister was trying to play a polarisation politics based on religion.

"He (Modi) is trying again to create a polarisation based on religion. He wants to create a false fear and panic. I do not know what he is seeking to achieve. People of Assam, North East will see through because what he says militates against the fact and the truth," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said here.

Rejecting Modi's allegation about infiltration in the North Eastern state, he said , "I reject his charges. It is baseless. It is divisive. It is irresponsible. He is deliberately doing this."

Modi at a rally in Silchar today batted for Hindu migrants from Bangladesh, asserting that they must be accomodated in this country while "infiltrators" who form the vote bank must be sent back.

Sharma said that Modi is known for "loud and false" claims and "theatrical" actions.

"That is what he is all about. He is not a man of substance who understands India. You can not expect Modi to understand North East or for that matter India as a whole," he said.

"He is a demagogue, divisive personality...It is now for the people to judge him. I think even the BJP leadership should be worried that what kind of obsessed individual they are projecting. But I know they are helpless because it is the RSS which has decided and foisted Modi on them. They had no other option but to rubber stamp Modi," Sharma said.

On NCP leader Sharad Pawar statement that he will not go with Modi, Sharma said NCP is a strong ally of Congress.

"NCP will not embrace the ideology and philosophical approach (of Modi) which is repugnant to the mainstream India," he said.