Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), Mar 30 : Independent MP Maneka Gandhi on Monday defended her son Varun Gandhi and said that invoking the National Security Act (NSA) for inciting violence by making inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks, is a travesty of justice.

She termed the imposition of the NSA a "misuse of a serious law".

New Delhi, Mar 30 : Lieutenant General Avinash Chander Soneja, an alumnus of the Sainik School, Kapurthala, has been posted as Director General of Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement at Integrated HQ of Ministry of Defence (Army), New Delhi.

The General Officer had joined Sainik School, Kapurthala (Punjab), in January 1963.

A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he had attended the prestigious higher command course at Indian Army''s War College, Mhow.

New Delhi, Mar. 30 : The Indian Government on Monday expressed its sadness and shock over the terror strike on a police academy in Lahore.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked by the events in Lahore. We hope that the Pakistan authorities will be able to resolve the situation soon with minimum loss of life. Our sympathies and condolences go out to the families of those who have been killed. Terrorism is a menace to the entire region," said Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.

New Delhi, Mar. 30 : Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on Monday welcomed the new US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, as announced by President Barack Obama last week.

In a statement issued here today on behalf of the Indian Government, Menon said: "We welcome the very clear expression of will to carry through the struggle against extremism in Afghanistan and its roots in Pakistan contained in the new comprehensive US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan."

New Delhi, March 30 : The trepidation among Mangaloreans over the pub attacks earlier this year found an echo on Sunday in the capital when a book was released on the issue, with a hope that the authorities will not remain silent if a similar event recurs in coastal Karnataka.

The book "Kadala Tadiya Tallana" (trepidation of seashore), containing articles by eminent authors from South Kanara District, projecting the unique composite culture of the place which has continued for centuries, was released by Sachidananda Murthy, Resident Editor of "The Week".

Kolkata, Mar 30 : Sex workers in Kolkata have geared up to pressurise political parties for recognition of their profession and acceptance in society.

In the red light district of Sonagachi, which falls under the North Kolkata Constituency, the sex workers under the banner of Durbar Mahila Samanya Committee have placed a charter of demands before each political party of West Bengal in the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha.

The main demand of these workers is application of labour rights for their profession.