I haven’t called anyone: Salman Khan
Tagged Under : Latest entertainment news
KOLKATA: Before the storm over Salman Rushdie’s absence from the Jaipur Literature Festival could abate, a fresh one started on Wednesday after the Kolkata Book Fair cancelled exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin’s book release, saying the government had warned of security problems. But organizers cited problems with the auditorium as the official reason for calling off the event to launch Taslima’s latest book, ‘Nirbashan’ (Exile).
Writers and book lovers were taken aback, more so because the gag on Rushdie at Jaipur was the main buzz at this year’s Kolkata mela. The publishers then released the book at their own stall amid a small gathering of writers and rights activists.
The author of ‘Lajja’ (Shame), who lives in exile under state protection in India, was scathing in her reaction. Fundamentalists had been emboldened by their success in keeping Rushdie away from Jaipur, she told TOI over phone. “The mullahs scored a victory by preventing Rushdie from coming to Jaipur. They celebrated by not allowing my book to be launched in Kolkata. What next?”
The Bangladeshi author said that hopes of a better Bengal under Mamata Banerjee had been dashed after Kolkata Book Fair cancelled her book release.
“Like the CPM, Mamata is also soft on fundamentalists. All parties are scared of fanatics. That encourages fundamentalists.” Mamata is also the state’s home minister.
Taslima claimed on Twitter that Kolkata Police had arm-twisted book fair organizers to cancel the launch. The Publishers and Booksellers’ Guild first
Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Like-CPM-Mamata-also-soft-on-fundamentalists-says-Taslima-Nasrin/articleshow/11720137.cms
NEW DELHI: Eurofighter, the European fighter that lost out to French Rafale on Tuesday in the over $10-billion MMRCA contract, isn’t quitting India anytime soon, even as it expressed disappointment in the government’s decision.
Eurofighter plans to closely watch the negotiations between Rafale- maker Dassault and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and is hoping that the lowest bidder would not be able to cope up with the demands of negotiations.
According to an official familiar with Eurofighter, if the L1, Rafale, is not able to fulfill the negotiation demands, then L2, Eurofighter, would be given the chance. “That is what is laid down in the procedure,” he said.
Eurofighter has emerged successful in past contracts even when it was not the L1. For instance, Eurofighter was L2 in the contract for design consultancy for Light Combat Aircraft, but ultimately won the contract because L1 couldn’t fulfill the Indian demands. “So we have precedence, and are hopeful,” he said.
“This is an interesting turn of events, but not the end of the process,” he argued.
Cassidian, the defence security division of EADS that led the Eurofighter’s bid in India, said in an official statement, “India took the decision to select our competitor as the preferred bidder in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender. Although this is not yet a contract signature and contract negotiations are still ahead, we are disappointed. However, we respect the
Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Edged-out-Eurofighter-still-hopes-to-bag-IAF-fighter-deal/articleshow/11720646.cms
