Militants threaten to blow up Delhi Akshardham temple

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/04akshardham.htm

Militants threaten to blow up Delhi Akshardham temple

January 04, 2008 18:41 IST

Security at the Akshardham temple in New Delhi was beefed up on Friday after the police received intelligence inputs that Kashmiri militants planned to blow it up.

"Some militants belonging to Kashmir-based groups were planning to blow up the temple," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar said.

He did not specify which group was planning to carry out the attack. Following the input, the police have deployed more personnel at the temple on the banks of Yamuna in east Delhi, visited by thousands of people every day.

The Akshardham temple has recently made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world's largest Hindu temple complex.

The temple is spread over expansive lawns covering an area of 86,342 square feet and is 356 feet long, 316 feet wide and 141 feet high. Intelligence agencies had in December warned that militants planned to carry out terror strikes in the capital.

The police have intensified patrolling and checking of vehicles in the capital. "There is nothing to panic. Personnel have been alerted. We are keeping a close watch," a senior police official said.

Sack minister for demanding separate currency: BJP

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/05jk.htm

Sack minister for demanding separate currency: BJP

Onkar Singh in New Delhi January 05, 2008 16:01 IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the sacking of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Kaarrah for demanding a separate currency for the state. "Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad should sack the minister for making such outrageous demand. He should be prosecuted for making such a statement," a spokesperson said.

In Jammu, there were widespread protests and effigies of the minister were burnt. "He is speaking the language of the ISI," a protestor said.

Former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah sought to play down the demand by saying that it was a populist comment made by a small-time politician. "Shall we have his picture instead of Mahatma Gandhi [Images]," he said.

The minister in question is now claiming he had been misquoted and he was speaking of the scenario when there is a settlement of the Kashmir issue