New Delhi, Feb 18 : A discussion on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi dominated Mani Shankar Aiyar''s book launch function in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The book, ''A Time Of Transition'' is a collection of Congress leader Aiyar''s columns in The Indian Express between 1996 and 2004.

The columns are said to be organised according to the five principles that Aiyar believes ruled the ideologies of Rajiv Gandhi. These were secularism, socialism, neighbourhood policy, non-alignment and democracy.

New Delhi, Feb. 18 : There is a growing feeling among the intellectuals in India that restoration of peace and normalcy in day-to-day life is the need of the hour in Manipur, which has been badly affected by militancy problem. Recently, a seminar was organized in the national capital on the subject.

New Delhi, Feb 18 : Colonel Sudhir Sawant, former Member of Parliament, has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier.

The rank of Brigadier was piped on him by Major General KVS Lalotra, Additional Director General, Territorial Army.

On promotion to the rank of Brigadier, Sawant has been appointed as Deputy Director General Territorial Army (Inf TA).

Major General Narendra Singh, Colonel of the Maratha LI and other officers of the Territorial Army were present on the ocassion.

New Delhi, Feb. 18 : Officers of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have secured the release of 58 bonded labourers, 40 adults and 83 children from four Bhatta companies in Bahadurgarh, Haryana.

A NHRC media release said that the labourers hailed from different districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, and there release was secured after an on-the-spot investigation of the four premises.

The spot inquiries were carried out at V. A. V. S. Bhatta Company, Kanonda, Bahadurgarh, S. P. Bhatta Company, Goyala Kalon, Bahadurgarh, K. P. Bhatta Company, Bhupina, Bahadurgarh and Friends Bhatta Company, Goyala Kalon.

New Delhi, Feb 18 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the 42nd session of Indian Labour Conference on Friday.

The session is being organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The two-day Conference to be held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes, will deliberate upon several topical and critical issues which include issues connected with contractualisation of labour, issues related to migrant workers, role of social partners in appropriate skill development for employability and also the effects of global financial crisis

New Delhi, Feb 18 : Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal, today said that a total number of 1655 associations have received foreign contribution of an amount of more than Rs. one crore in 2006-07.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha today, Jaiswal said that out of 1655 associations, 155 have received foreign contributions from donors based in India.