Mahatma Gandhi is my inspiration: Obama

New Delhi, July 11: Mahatma Gandhi inspires US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama and he flaunts it by having a portrait of India's Father of the Nation at his Senate office।

The Democratic Party candidate has spoken highly about Gandhi, saying the apostle of peace reminds him about the real message of life।

"Throughout my life, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things," Obama has told a leading magazine in an interview।

He cites this as the reason for having Mahatma Gandhi's portrait in his Senate office। It is "to remind me that real results will come not just from Washington -- they will come from the people." Obama is also said to be a believer in Lord Hanuman and keeps his statue as a lucky charm.

He talked about the rural development work his mother did in India and said he was "fortunate" to have close Indian-American friends.

I am OK with Indo-US nuke deal: Obama

New Delhi, July 11: US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has supported the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying it balances a range of important issues and he is "reluctant" to seek changes in the agreement।

The Democrat candidate, who initially had some reservations about the "original agreement", hoped the deal would be concluded before the end of the year।

The nuclear agreement effectively balances a range of issues -- from America's strategic relationship with India to its non-proliferation concerns to India's energy needs, he said।

"I am, therefore, reluctant to seek changes," the Democrat candidate told 'Outlook' magazine in an interview।

Asked whether the deal would be reopened or scrapped if it isn't clinched this year and he became the President next year, Obama said "A final judgement on the deal ... must await the IAEA's approval of a safeguards agreement with India and changes to be agreed (upon) by the Nuclear Suppliers Group। At that point, the US Congress will decide whether to approve the agreement. I continue to hope this process can be concluded before the end of the year."

His comments discount the possibility of renegotiation of the deal if the Democrat administration assumes power in the US after the George W Bush regime.

UNPA to oppose trust vote in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: In a major setback to the UPA, the eight-member United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) on Friday decided to oppose the confidence motion in Lok Sabha, says TDP leader K Yerran Naidu।

Earlier the UPA government had expressed confidence of numbers after meeting its allies on Friday। The alliance is to face the vote of confidence on July 22. A special session of Parliament will be held on July 21.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had said the party welcomed the support of Samajwadi Party and that it was ready to face a trust vote।

"The UPA government wishes to seek a trust vote as early as possible। A special session of the Lok Sabha will be convened soon," said the Congress President.

"Before the Left withdrew its support, the PM had said that he would not operationalise the agreement without taking Parliament into confidence। We stand by that position," she had said.

The Congress had been dealt a blow when Vaiko's MDMK declined to support it on the nuclear deal issue soon after the Left withdrew support to the UPA government.

CBI claims Arushi murder cracked, names 3 killers

Noida: Dr Rajesh Talwar, father of slain teenager Arushi Talwar, is to be released on personal bond on two sureties of Rs 5 lakh each।

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that there is no evidence against Dr Talwar and so can be released under Section 169 of the Code of Criminal Procedure।

Dr Talwar's brother Dinesh Talwar and family friend Arun Mittal filled in two surety bonds by submitting their car papers।

Court order for Dr Talwar's release is expected shortly। However, it is unlikely that he''ll be released on Friday as his lawyers won't be able to present the papers to the jail authorities on time.

He was arrested as a prime suspect in the double murder case of Arushi and domestic help Hemraj।

Arushi and Hemraj were murdered on May 15 and a few days’ later Noida police arrested Dr Rajesh Talwar claiming he was the killer।

The case was later handed over to the CBI and after more than a month, on Friday the agency in a press conference claimed to have solved the case।

Joint Director, CBI, Arun Kumar claimed that Dr Talwar’s medical assistant Krishna, Durranis domestic help Rajkumar and another domestic help Vijay Mandal were the killers।

Krishna and Rajkumar have been sent to 14 days of judicial custody.