Putin visits India, eyes arms sales, trade and political ties

Arms sales will be on the agenda when Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India on Monday to court a country that has traditionally been a top client.

Putin's trip, his first to India since he started a new Kremlin six-year term in May, is a chance to reaffirm Russia's interest in India, long a regional ally and now a partner in the BRICS group of emerging market nations.

In an article for publication in the The Hindu on Monday, Putin stressed that "deepening friendship and cooperation with India is among the top priorities of our foreign policy".

"India and Russia show an example of responsible leadership and collective actions in the international arena," he wrote, a veiled swipe at the West and in particular the United States, whom Putin accuses of seeking to impose its will on the world......read more.

You can't march in protest to president's house: Shinde

The government is not opposed to people holding peaceful protests, but staging a march to the presidential house is not right, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Monday.

Shinde said he has been meeting student representatives since the day protests started in the capital against the gang-rape of a young woman Dec 16.

"I accept that calm and quiet protestors can demonstrate, and there is no problem (with that) as it is the right of the public," he told a TV channel.

"But gathering at Vijay Chowk, trying to breach barricades and marching to Rashtrapati Bhavan is not right. Rashtrapati Bhavan is prestigious for the country."

According to Shinde: "Hooligans have now joined the protestors."

He said the home ministry was daily briefing the prime minister on the issue....read more.

PM appeals for calm, expresses sadness at clashes

Reiterating his plea for maintaining peace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a televised address Monday, assured the government would examine without delay the police response to the savage gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman.

Manmohan Singh expressed sadness over the clashes between protesters and police that have left scores injured and said all steps would be taken to ensure the safety and security of women in the country.

Terming the outpouring of public protest as "genuine and justified anger and anguish" , Manmohan Singh said he felt strongly about the gangrape as "a father of three daughters". He said while anger over the crime is "justified" "violence will serve no purpose".

The prime minister's statement comes as the father of the young woman appealed for peace and also asked people to pray for his daughter, who is in a critical condition in hospital.

"I appeal to all to refrain from vandalism and help the police so that the process of capturing and sentencing the culprits is successful," the father told TV news channels.

The prime minister issued the appeal after the national capital was witness to largescale protests and also violence over the Dec 16 gangrape.

Manmohan Singh said his wife and family were all "joined" in their concern for the young woman.

"As a father of three daughters myself, I feel as strongly about this as each one of you. My wife, my family and I are all joined in our concern for the young woman who was the victim of this heinous crime. We are constantly monitoring her medical condition. Let us all pray for her and her loved ones during this critical time....read more.

Vidya is now Mrs Sidharth Roy Kapur

Vidya Balan with Siddharth Roy Kapur

Actress Vidya Balan and UTV head Siddharth Roy Kapur were married on the morning of December 14. The wedding took place at the Green Mile bungalow in Bandra, contrary to earlier reports of a temple wedding in Chembur..read more.