Jayalalitha in Delhi today to meet PM

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa will be in Delhi on Monday on a two-day politically significant visit with both the Congress and DMK, not on the best of terms, keenly watching her signals.

On her first visit to the capital after assuming office, Jayalalithaa will meet the PM and is expected to discuss issues like Sri Lankan Tamils and various developmental projects in her state.

The visit comes at a time when there are growing strains in the seven-year-old ties between the two parties after the drubbing in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry . Jayalalithaa has been avoiding questions on whether she will meet Sonia.

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Fascinating to share dressing room with Tendulkar: Franklin

Wellington, June 11 (ANI): New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin has said that he considers himself fortunate to have shared a dressing room with Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar during this year's Indian Premier League.

The Waikato Times quoted Franklin, as saying: "He's a really nice guy and it's fascinating to watch the way he trains and prepares for games under all that scrutiny."

"That was good fun, also getting to know him and what his interests are outside the game," he added.

Now back home with wife Kerry and son Charlie, 2, and a second child due in July, Franklin, 30, is taking his first serious break in two years instead of rejoining Gloucestershire.

His player review with Wright and Greatbatch will focus on his bowling, which he hopes to return to the state it was five years ago. With 89 ODIs and 27 tests to his name, the premier all-rounder's spot remains a big goal when training resumes next month. 

"Bowling is going to be a key emphasis, to work hard and get it back to a standard where I can win games for whoever I play for. It has been a bit topsy turvy for the past two years." (ANI)

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Congress launches campaign against Hazare, Ramdev

New Delhi, June 12: Congress, campaign, Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev7 Kolkata: The Congress on Sunday launched a campaign to counter the anti-graft movement by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev and accused a section of civil society of trying to weaken democratic institutions.

"The Constitution has given the power to legislate only to Parliament and the state Assemblies. If 5,000 or 6,000 people dictate from outside what the Parliament ought to do, this will weaken democracy," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a press conference.

Mukherjee, who released a document in English containing his party's views on the issue, said the Congress was launching an awareness campaign all over the country.

"The documents will be made available in other languages. Debates, discussions and seminars would be organised right from the district to the block levels to put forth our views," he said.

Referring to Hazare's deadline of August 15 for passing the Lokpal Bill, Mukherjee said the Centre had suggested that the Lok Pal Bill would be placed during the monsoon session of the Parliament.

It was not possible, however, to give a timeframe by when the bill would be passed, he said.

--Agencies

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Jaya's criticism drama, totally unwarranted: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi termed Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's criticism on his party's efforts on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue as "drama" and said her comments were "totally unwarranted" and aimed at "diverting people's attention."

"Jayalalithaa had not criticised Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa and Sri Lankan government and instead have criticised me and DMK on the issue," Karunanidhi said.

He said the criticism was "totally unwarranted and sheer waste of time of the Assembly aimed at diverting the attention of the people."

Listing out steps that his party had taken on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue since 1956, the 88-year-old patriarch wondered "who all can talk about what all issues these days."

Refuting charges that DMK had not taken up the issue with the Centre, he referred to the resolution his government had tabled in the Assembly in 2008.

Karunanidhi said "Jayalalithaa, who had said the Sri Lankan Army was not deliberately killing the Sri Lankan Tamils and it was common for innocent people getting killed in a war, was now behaving as if she is concerned about the Sri Lankan Tamils."

"But the real Tamils will not fall for that," he said, adding, "it is her action that is a drama and not ours."

While speaking on a resolution in the State Assembly seeking imposition of economic sanctions on Sri Lanka, Jayalalithaa had slammed Karunanidhi, saying it was his party's "selfish nature and helplessness" which did not yield any tangible benefits for the suffering Tamils.

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