India defends border state visit

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
27 February 2012 Last updated at 09:49 GMT Defence Minister AK Antony (right) says it is his right to visit Arunachal Pradesh India's defence minister has said Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, after Beijing objected to his visit to the north-eastern state.

China claims the state, which borders the Chinese region of Tibet.

After AK Antony's visit to the state, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman had said India should not do anything to "complicate" the border issue.

The two countries dispute several Himalayan border areas and fought a brief war in 1962.

Mr Antony said the comments were "most unfortunate" and "objectionable".

He said Arunachal "is an integral part of India and as defence minister it is my right and duty to visit the state".

Beijing also protested when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh during his 2009 election campaign.

Map dispute

Mr Antony visited the north-eastern state earlier this month to mark the 25th anniversary of its statehood.

"I was surprised to see such a reaction. I feel it is most unfortunate and, at the same time, it is really objectionable," he told reporters in the capital, Delhi, on Monday.

The defence minister said the state had achieved progress.

"I have been visiting Arunachal since 1984. This time, I was thrilled to visit the state on its silver jubilee of attaining statehood," he said.

India and China have been locked in a long-running dispute over their Himalayan border.

Numerous rounds of border talks have been held to try to resolve the issues.

Last November, China's ambassador to India became involved in a heated exchange over a map that showed parts of India within China's border.

View the original article here

Bollywood actor defends assault

23 February 2012 Last updated at 06:39 GMT Saif Ali Khan says the allegations against him are false Top Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has defended charges of assault against him and said he acted in self-defence.

The actor said he had been hit and "verbally abused" first during the "ugly incident" at a five-star hotel on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, police registered a case against the actor for allegedly assaulting a South African businessman.

Late Wednesday night, Khan was arrested and immediately released on bail after paying 15,000 rupees ($304; £194).

The incident took place when Khan was dining with actress girlfriend Kareena Kapoor and several other people at a restaurant at the Taj Hotel.

The hugely popular Bollywood couple have been dubbed Saifeena by the paparazzi.

Police said the businessman, Iqbal Sharma, was treated in hospital for a broken nose.

'False allegations'

"I was hit first. I acted in self-defence," the actor told reporters outside his Mumbai residence early Thursday morning.

"I am a law-abiding citizen. All allegations against me are false and justice will be done," he said.

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are known as Bollywood's first couple

The actor said the situation could have been handled differently.

"I could have reacted differently. I could have been a little more Gandhian in my approach. But I'm afraid I reacted in a way any gentleman would have reacted.

"But I'm not proud of what happened. It could have been handled differently. I should have set a better example. I'm sorry that I reacted this way," he said.

Khan has filed a counter complaint against Mr Sharma claiming that he was punched in the eye.

On his part, Iqbal Sharma told reporters: "We will pursue this to the full extent of the law and we will look at civil case options."

"The fight started after the businessman, who was sitting on the next table, told the actor and his companions to tone down their volume," a senior police officer told reporters on Wednesday.

He said a case of assault had been registered against the star and an investigation had begun.

This is the second case of assault against the actor - in 2008 he was accused of assaulting a journalist.

Khan has acted in more than 40 movies and won acclaim for Omkara, a Bollywood version of William Shakespeare's Othello.

His much-awaited film Agent Vinod, with girlfriend Kareena, is due to hit the screen on 23 March.

He is the son of former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore, a former actress.

Recently, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was also accused of assault by a filmmaker at a party.

Shirish Kunder said Khan was "drunk" and pushed him and pulled his hair.

Later, Kunder said he had a "heart-to-heart chat" with Khan and they had "resolved all misunderstandings".

View the original article here