Sri Lankan PM to inaugurate Buddhist centre at Sanchi

STAFF WRITER 22:3 HRS IST

Bhopal, Oct 30 (PTI) Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ratnashri Wickramanayake arrived here today on a three-day visit to inaugurate a Buddhist Prayer Centre at Sanchi, about 45 km from here.

Wickramanayake, who arrived in a special plane, was received at the Bhopal's Raja Bhoj Airport by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, official sources said.

He will inaugurate the Sanchi Vandana Niketana (Buddhist Prayer Centre) tomorrow at Sanchi, the world heritage site.

India wants to resolve all issues with neighbours: PM

STAFF WRITER 12:37 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) Reaching out to Pakistan for the third consecutive day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India wishes to resolve all outstanding issues with it and all other neighbours through dialogue and spirit of partnership overcoming the "areas of difficulties".

He noted that Pakistan is grappling with a major problem on account of rising terrorism and wished it success in dealing with it.

"We seek to live in peace with our own neighbourhood and with the world. We have always been and wish to remain good neighbours and good global citizens," Singh said addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here.

Contending that India's destiny is "intrinsically linked" with that of its neighbours, he said "we seek good relations with each one of them".

‘Central, State Government protecting Amar Singh’

LUCKNOW, Oct 29: Lawyer Shivakant Tripathi, who filed a criminal case accusing Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh of financial fraud, on Thursday alleged that both the Central and State government were trying to protect the politician. Tripathi also alleged that Singh was a threat to his life.

"I am pursuing this forgery, that is initially of over Rs 500 crore, along with my two sons just for the betterment of the economy of the State. However, both the Central and the State Government are trying to protect him (Amar Singh) for their personal benefit," Tripathi said at a press conference here. The scam could well go over Rs 5,000 crore if investigated by an independent law enforcement agency, he alleged, adding he only sought the matter be investigated by an "independent and unbiased agency - be it central or State".

The case was lodged by Tripathi in Kanpur last week accusing Singh of using illegal means not only to bring about the merger of a number of companies into six companies owned by him, but also artificially raising the share prices of these companies. Initially the Uttar Pradesh Government had passed on the FIR to the Kolkata police on the plea that the companies referred to in the complaint were based there. However, the Kolkata police returned the FIR, remarking that Uttar Pradesh police was free to initiate action in the matter as the Kolkata address of the companies did not bar them from proceeding in the case. The case was transferred to the Uttar Pradesh police’s Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Tuesday. (IANS)

India ‘shocked’ at attack on UN guest house in Kabul

BANGALORE, Oct 28: External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday expressed the country’s shock over the terror attack on a United Nations guest house in Kabul in which 12 people, including six UN staff, were killed. “We are shocked by the dastardly attack on the UN guest house in Kabul. We convey our deep sympathy to the UN for the loss of life and hope more security measures will be taken to prevent such attacks,” Krishna told reporters here.

The attack took place in the Shirpoor diplomatic enclave when unidentified gunmen barged into the guest house at dawn and opened indiscriminate fire, killing the UN staff instantly. Three guards of the compound were also killed in a gunfight that erupted between the attackers and the security forces. The guest house accommodates the international staff of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Taliban is bitterly opposed to the UN. The attack comes ahead of the November 7 presidential runoff election.

Expressing concern over the grave situation in Afghanistan, Krishna said the Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked by suicide bombers twice - early this month (October 8) and last year (July 7), claiming many lives. “We had brought it to the notice of the Afghan government, which conducted an inquiry that revealed the attacks were carried by outsiders,” Krishna recalled.

Asked if the Afghan policy of the US was over relying on Pakistan, the minister said he could not dictate or wish the US and Pakistan has a particular foreign policy direction. “We can only hope the situation will improve. We command the efforts of the Afghan Government and its people for conducting elections. As doubts were raised about the outcome, a runoff election is due (November 7). We can only speak for India and not for the US or Pakistan,” Krishna noted. (IANS)