Why can't I become PM: Mayawati

Lucknow, Aug 9 (PTI) Unfazed by the failure of efforts to pull down the UPA government that may have pitchforked her into national centre stage, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made clear her ambitions of becoming the prime minister after the next Lok Sabha elections।

Addressing a national convention of her party workers, she also announced that she was grooming her political heir, who would take over from her in case of any eventuality।

Former External Affairs Minister and suspended Congress leader K Natwar Singh and Samajwadi Party leaders Shahid Siddiqui and S P Singh Baghel joined the BSP at the convention।

"When I can become the chief minister of the most populous state four times why can I not not become the prime minister of the country even if I am born in a dalit family", said Mayawati to a huge gathering of her cheering party workers who had come from various parts of the country।

"I am doubly proud of being a dalit and Indian as also the fact that I am managing the state better than the previous governments ", she said asking as to why a "dalit ki beti" (daughter of dalit) not not become the prime minister with the support and backing of the sarv samaj (all communities)।

Mayawati also made a surprise announcement of her political heir saying she apprehended that she could be targetted by terrorists or naxalites।

'This person is about 18 to 20 years younger than me and belongs to "chamar" (her caste)। He is being groomed but his name would be divulged only at an opportune time", she said adding, she has herself put the name in sealed envelopes and given to two of her trusted collegues for safe keeping.

'The name would not not be declared till I am in good health as the BSP detractors would lose no no opportunity to create problems for him", she said adding that it has been ensured that this heir would be acceptable to all.

Pakistan's ruling coalition to impeach President Musharraf

Islamabad (DNS): Pakistan's ruling coalition on Thursday declared that it will launch impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf, accusing him of "eroding" trust of the nation through his policies and actions।

"We have good news for democracy। The coalition believes it is imperative to move for impeachment against General Musharraf," PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari told a joint press conference with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif after intense parleys between the two sides for the past three days on the issue.

"We will present a chargesheet against Musharraf," Zardari said without giving a timeframe for the impeachment of the 64-year-old beleaguered President।

On the issue of judges sacked by Musharraf during the emergency rule last year, the PPP chief said all the deposed justices will be reinstated immediately after the impeachment of the Presidency।

Echoing Zardari's views, Sharif said he was in "total agreement" with his ally on the decision of impeaching Musharraf, whose ouster the former Premier's party has been demanding for a long time।

Zardari blamed Musharraf for the economic woes of Pakistan and said his policies had "eroded" the trust of the nation।

Earlier, an unnamed PPP Cabinet member, who participated in discussions between the two parties, was quoted as saying by Dawn News channel that the ruling coalition is expected to move an impeachment motion against Musharraf in Parliament on August 11

BJP to launch nationwide stir on Amarnath shrine land row

New Delhi (DNS): A day after the government asked the BJP to reconsider its decision on a three-day nationwide agitation over the Amarnath land transfer issue, the party's core committee today decided to go ahead with the protest starting on Monday।

"The meeting discussed in detail about the latest developments in Jammu। The party is going ahead with the agitation programme. There is no change," party sources told PTI after the meeting.

The government had formally asked the BJP to suspend the agitation in order to facilitate the dialogue process with protestors of the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS)।

The all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was attended by BJP president Rajnath Singh and General Secretary Arun Jaitley।

The meeting held today at BJP leader L K Advani's residence was attended by Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, General Secretary Sushma Swaraj and other senior leaders including M M Joshi।

Sources said the BJP top brass is inclined towards a low-key agitation but the RSS is not ready to relent on the matter। While BJP feels that any more deterioration of the issue could benefit separatist forces, the RSS is of the view that "a lot of blood has been already shed and there is no point in looking back."

The SASS, a body comprising of more than three dozen social and political outfits including the BJP, enjoys patronage of the RSS and is spearheading the current agitation in Jammu for over a month.

HIV testing: India ranked best, Russia worst

New Delhi: India topped the list of five mid-income countries that provide free HIV testing and counselling to people, reported the scientific journal 'The Lancet'। The unexpected pat on the back came after a comparison of testing and counselling facilities in India, Russia, Mexico, Uganda and South Africa that showed India's was not only the cheapest but also the most cost-effective. Russia did the worst.

The Lancet study compared data from several clinics in each country to calculate the cost-effectiveness and quality of services provided। "India and Russia represent the two extremes in terms of implementation performance, with the quality of services being similar in almost all centers surveyed in India. The difference between quality in different clinics was the highest in Russia," said lead author Dr. Stefano M. Bertozzi from the National Institute of Public Health, presenting the data at the XVII International AIDS Conference on Tuesday.

India's programme, run by the National AIDS Control Organisation, is also the most cost effective, costing the government US$ 3 (Rs 120) per person। The cost was as high as US$ 1,000 in some centres in Russia.

One reason for cost being down in India was the number of people counselled and tested, with a study showing that doubling the numbers reduced the average cost by 50 per cent in India, "We may have the volumes, but that too is because people have increased awareness about the disease and more and more are coming forward to get tested। You must remember that the testing is purely voluntary and people can refuse if they so wish," says Suresh Mohammed, national programme officer, National AIDS Control Organisation.

There are 2।47 million people living with HIV in India, with almost 1.6 lakh getting free treatment under the government programme. The cost to government is Rs 550 per patient per year.

Dolling up sex education

Former US policewoman Marcia Morgan uses a unique sex education tool that crosses all language barriers: dolls with sexual body parts। “Anatomical dolls help children de-personalise and share their own perceptions about sexual behaviours, including abuse,” says Morgan, tUS-based consultant in criminal justice and social issues.

Morgan developed the dolls 30 years ago to help sexually abused children describe what happened to them। These dolls are currently used for sex education not just in the US but also in Mozambique, where role-playing helps children with no education learn about sexual body parts, pregnancy prevention, preventing sexually-transmitted diseases and how to wear a condom.

“Apart from genetalia, these dolls have mouths and tongues and come with clothes and underclothes. They come in shades of white, light brown and dark brown and can be dressed in clothes appropriate to the area where there are being used," says Morgan. Given the opposition to sex education in India, these dolls are not likely to be seen in a sari or kurta soon.

Rane threatens to quit, launches tirade against Deshmukh

Mumbai (DNS): Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday threatened to quit Vilasrao Deshmukh-led coalition government and launched a fresh attack on the latter's style of functioning alleging "it is serving the interests of one man"।

"This government is not for the common man but to serve the interests of one man", Rane, at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, told reporters at Mantralaya, leaving no doubt for guessing who the 'one man' he was referring to।

The immediate provocation for Rane's tirade against Deshmukh is apparently the approval of land allotment for Videocon group's Rs 8,000 crore Liquid Crystal Display panel manufacturing project in the state by the state cabinet on Tuesday।

In the cabinet meeting, Rane was apparently involved in a verbal duel with Deshmukh, saying the land for the project is being given at a far lesser price than the market price।

"I will meet Congress high command soon and offer to resign from this government which is not doing anything for the common man but working to further interests of industrialists," Rane, who in his three years in the Congress has failed to unseat Deshmukh from the CM's post, said।

Both Deshmukh and Videocon Chairman V N Dhoot hail from Marathwada region and Rane is expected to highlight their 'nexus' when he meets the party leadership.

Violence rages in Jammu, 2 cops lynched, 48 injured

Jammu/Srinagar, Aug 5 (DNS) Two policemen were today lynched in Jorian in Jammu and Kashmir as violence flared up on the Amarnath issue with protesters torching police posts and vehicles and uprooting 1।5 kms of railway track in the Jammu region, leaving 51 injured.

In Srinagar, another five persons were injured in clashes between police and stone-pelting agitators who were protesting against the call to blockade Jammu-Srinagar highway given by Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti and the killing of a youth।

The two policemen were lynched after police opened fire in the border area of Jorian where protesters burnt down a police post, a Gypsy vehicle and a tehsildar's office। As many as 29 persons including 13 cops were injured in the violence, forcing authorities to call out the army.

In Akhnoor town, protesters, demanding removal of Governor N N Vohra, set fire to a police post and a tent housing security personnel। Police there had earlier fired teargas shells and resorted to cane charge.

Curfew was imposed in Kathua after police and protesters fought pitched battles in which 18 persons including 5 cops were injured, official reports reaching Jammu said। The agitators set fire to a railway police post and a municipal office in Kathua.

Protesters uprooted 1.5 kms of railway track and stopped an army special train in Gagwal area in Samba district where at least four persons were injured in police-protester clashes.

Ahmedabad police gets 7 sketches of blast accused

Ahmedabad, Aug 5 (DNS) The city crime branch has obtained sketches of seven people who might be involved in the Jaipur bomb explosions in an effort to gather leads in the Ahmedabad serial blasts on July 26, a senior police official said today।

"We have obtained seven sketches of suspects who could be involved in Jaipur bomb blasts। We are studying them for any link with Ahmedabad serial blasts," Joint Commissioner of Police Ashish Bhatia said.

The sketches will be studied by our experts and if needed, might be shown to the eye-witnesses, he said।

The crime branch has already prepared three sketches of possible suspects who could have planted bombs in the city।

Meanwhile, the city police conducted combing operations in various parts of the city yesterday।

Several teams from different police stations searched over 3,000 vehicles, 110 hotels and guest houses, 30 public gardens, various farm houses and 42 religious places। They also questioned 155 persons.

The Surat police is also questioning various suspects to get more information।

"We are still investigating the cases। There are some leads which may suggest involvement of local SIMI workers. We are still looking for concrete evidence in the cases," an official of Surat city police said.

Bomb squads have defused 24 explosive devices recovered from various places in the diamond city over the past one week.