œND‹‰‰†‰KœND‹‰‰†‰œND‹‰‰†‰MœND‹‰‰†‰C OF INDIA SUITABLE RUSHDIE’SRUSHDIE’S BOY CATCHCATCH THETHE FEVERFEVER CHILDRENCHILDREN MEN & WOMEN SPECIAL REPORT INTERNATIONAL New Delhi January 19, 2003, Capital • 48 pages including Men & Women & Classifieds + 8 pages of Delhi Times Price Rs. 2 SNAPSHOTS Reuters Russia gives nuclear edge to Indian defence Graphic: Neelabh By Manoj Joshi been under intense negotiation the BrahMos, based on the Fernandes confirmed. TIMES NEWS NETWORK for the past decade. The center- existing Yakhont, is expected to He said there was now ‘‘a piece is Russia’s free gift of a be used by India to develop a sense of urgency on both sides’’ New Delhi/Moscow: India will mothballed 44.5 thousand tonne long-range nuclear weapon de- since they had been negotiating lease nuclear bombers and a nu- aircraft carrier, Admiral Gor- livery system. for so long. ‘‘All the technical as- clear-propelled submarine from shkov. The added muscle will The two sides have not yet pects have been agreed upon, Russia as part of a $3 billion enable India to easily outstrip had a closure on the price India only the issue of price remains package that includes the air- Pakistan’s capabilities and at will have to pay for the Gor- to be settled for the Gorshkov.’’ craft carrier,Admiral Gorshkov. last provide a credible deterrent shkov’s refit and the MiG-29 K Fernandes denied reports Combined with the BrahMos against Chinese capabilities in aircraft that it will carry. Fer- about Russia pressing India on supersonic cruise missile that the coming years. nandes told newspersons in the inclusion of MiG-AT ad- is to be tested in the coming The BrahMos cruise missile Moscow on Saturday that the vanced trainer jet. ‘‘MiG-AT week, India’s nuclear deterrent made by a $250 million Indo- package will finalised by the AJT was not found acceptable will, at last, get some real teeth. Russian joint venture — whose end of March under the terms by the Air Force.’’ The broad outline of the deal capital is to be boosted by an- of a protocol signed earlier in Comment: The acquisition of were disclosed in Moscow by de- other $50 million under an the day by him with Russia’s in- the submarines and strategic fence minister George Fernan- agreement on Friday — will be dustries, science and technolo- bombers would complete India’s des at the end of a six-day visit the principal weapons system gy minister Ilya Klebanov.‘‘Gor- nuclear triad — on land, sea and to Russia on Friday. for the Akula-class submarine shkov is part of the package air. However, this would also The Russian weapons sys- and the TU-22M3 strategic agreed in the inter-governmen- make it vital that we exercise tems are part of the package bomber. Though touted as a tal agreement, and all the three even greater restraint vis-a-vis this awesome power. NO KIDDING: Australian actress Nicole whose various elements have 280km range anti-ship missile, deals would be signed together,’’ Kidman arrives at the 8th annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday. Kidman was Neeraj Paul nominated for the best actress award for her performance in The Hours. Cellular, MTNL war Auto fares may go up: Auto fares in the Capital are likely to go up soon. The keeps users out in state transport department is actively considering a revision of auto fares, from the present Rs 2.50 per km to Rs 3.25- 3.50 per km. On Saturday, chief minister cold for second day Sheila Dikshit, held a meeting with auto unions to discuss the new fare structure By Sanjay Anand recommended by the fare committee. The Cross Talk recommendations will be tabled before TIMES NEWS NETWORK the state cabinet next week. P4 New Delhi: Lakhs of cell- The Problem Anil Ambani takes over BSES: Vice phone users in Delhi contin- Cellular subscribers not chairman and MD of Reliance Industries ued to be affected for the sec- able to connect to MTNL (RIL) Anil Ambani has been appointed as ond day on Saturday by no phones and vice versa the chairman of electricity major BSES on connectivity with MTNL sub- Saturday. With this, RIL has completed scribers, even as AirTel, The Cause the takeover of BSES. P8 Hutch and Idea said they MTNL disrupting traffic Rs 10,000 cr for Kerala: The Prime have approached the telecom because Airtel, Hutch and Minister on Saturday announced more regulator, TRAI, against Idea have been blocking than Rs 10,000 crore Central investment MTNL on the issue. Tata’s Indicom WLL-M in several public sector projects and that Phone users across the city calls transmitted work on the long-awaited Vallarpadam in- expressed shock that phone through MTNL ternational container terminal would be- companies were quarrelling The Extent gin in the next few months. P8 at their expense, with total disregard for emergency sit- At least half of the 1.7 Advani rules out talks with Pak: million cellphone users in Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on Sat- uations — from being strand- ed at past midnight fog to Delhi affected at any urday ruled out any talks or consultations given time with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, until contacting hospitals. Pakistan completely dismantles and Cellular operators have al- The Duration abandons the structure of terrorism. Ad- leged that MTNL was respon- Till Monday, when cell vani told mediapersons here that India’s COLOURFUL TIMES AHEAD: The laser show at CP organised by The Times of India after it launched the all-colour edition on Saturday. sible for the disruption of operators have to credibility lies in its earnest plea for peace services, in an ongoing war show-cause to TRAI for in the border. P8 between the two groups. The defying its directive trouble started after cellular Friends to split: NBC chief Jeff Zucker firms began blocking the The Solution announced that Friends, now in its ninth Top-level government season as the network’s biggest comedy Delhi came, saw and swooned traffic of Tata Indicom’s intervention to ensure an success, will positively, absolutely end its WLL-M (mobile wireless in TIMES NEWS NETWORK interim interconnect run after its upcoming 10th season. NBC Vineet Jain raised a toast to ‘‘a meant an investment of Rs 100 far as the eye could see. The fog local loop) service that was colourful future’’ and to ‘‘In- crore and taken 15 months to added to the effect making the being routed through MTNL. agreement expected next struck a deal with Warner Bros. Television New Delhi: As thousands of dia’s and perhaps the world’s complete. Was all this worth it? colours more vibrant. People as One cell firm’s representa- week between cellular last month to bring the show back in the Delhiites jostled in the January fall of 2003 for 18 more episodes, six first colour newspaper.’’ ‘‘Certainly yes,’’ said Dhariwal. far as 30 miles off could have tive said all the three players operators and WLL-M/ chill, zillions of coloured beams segments fewer than a typical season or- Addressing the press, Mr ‘‘There’s a huge market for Eng- seen the spectacle if the horizon have written to MTNL seek- basic companies der, for a reported license fee of $10 mil- seemed to rise from the ground Jain also emphasised that lish dailies in Delhi. Right now, was clear. But the family that ing immediate restoration of lion per episode. above Palika parking to create ‘‘Delhi was very important to just 21 per cent people read Eng- had come all the way from services, to alleviate the suf- ing caused by their company. magic. There was just one us.’’ The market, said the MD, lish newspapers here. Colour Dwarka had no regrets. ‘‘If MTNL denies they are No to war: Protesters opposed to war fering of over half a million message: Freedom from Black was growing fast and he ‘‘ex- will certainly be an advantage.’’ The climax came with the subscribers. ‘‘We have been blocking the traffic between on Iraq gathered for mass demonstra- and White. tions around the world on Saturday as pected the circulation to double The grand display of hi-tech aerial fireworks created by the trying to contact senior cellular users and their sub- The Times of India insignia in five years.’’ computer-controlled lasers, cre- Moranis. Thousands cheered as MTNL officials but without scribers, then TRAI will have UN arms chiefs travelled to Baghdad to flashed on the large screen to a tell its leaders cooperation was the only Ravi Dhariwal, executive di- ated by event managers Wiz- the 200 feet wide Niagra Falls lit success.’’ MTNL CMD to independently verify their way to avoid armed conflict. With Wash- resounding cheer from enthusi- rector, Bennett, Coleman & Co craft, followed. Images of the lo- up the three sides of the en- Narinder Sharma continued claims by calling computer ington massing troops and equipment in astic crowds that had gathered Ltd, also promised Delhi read- tus temple and Qutab Minar clave. Magnificent showers of to avoid responding to calls records of both the warring the Gulf and Iraq declaring itself mo- at Connaught Place to see the ers a ‘‘ray of sunshine every- created by hi-tech, hi-powered gold, pink, purple and green lit from The Times of India. factions,’’ said one official bilised for battle, thousands of demon- hi-tech laser show, followed by a day’’. ‘‘No description,’’ said Yag laser space cannons looked the night sky.Even the moon de- TRAI was closed officially handling regulatory affairs.