New Delhi, Dec 17 : Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) leader Mehmood Madani has criticised the act of militancy, calling it a curse on mankind.

Addressing reporters here last evening, Madani praised Indian Muslims for openly condemning the barbaric act of militancy and said that for the first time general public have come out of their houses in huge numbers.

"This is the specialty of India and Indian Muslims who come out and openly condemn the terror attacks. We are doing that job which has not been done by anyone in the world. Those who are promoting the acts of terror and terrorism are enemy of both the humanity and Islam," said Madani.

New Delhi, Dec 17 : Lok Sabha will hold a discussion on the bills aimed at setting up the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and another legislation to strengthen the existing laws against terror.

On Tuesday, Home Minister P Chidambaram introduced the two draft legislations in the Lok Sabha.

Introducing the Bill, Chidambaram said there is need for setting up an agency at the Central level to investigate offences related to terrorism and certain other acts, which have national ramifications.

New Delhi, De 17 : Sheila Dikshit will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the national capital for the third successive term today.

Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna will administer the oath of secrecy to Dikshit, including her six cabinet ministers at the Raj Bhawan.

According to sources, the new government is likely to have some ministers from the previous cabinet. They are A K Walia, Arvinder Lovely, Raj Kumar Chauhan and Mangat Ram Singhal.

Dikshit had staked claim yesterday for the formation of government in the city.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has said that the Centre will look into the requirements of medical infrastructure in Puducherry and will render all possible support.

A delegation of the State Ministers, Legislators, led by Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam met him along with Narayansamy, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Professor M. Ramadass, Member of Parliament from Puducherry.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora today said that as India imports over 75 per cent of its crude oil requirement, the international oil prices have a decisive role in the domestic pricing.

In a written reply to a question by Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha and Shivanand Tiwari, Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister said, "Indian Basket of crude oil, which averaged $79.25 per barrel during 2007-08, had gone up to $142.04 per barrel on July 3.

New Delhi, Dec 16 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today slammed the decision of the government to slash interest rates as part of its initiative to spur demand amid a global crisis.

Government banks lowered interest rates to 8.5 per cent on home loans for buying a new home costing up to 500,000 rupees and 9.25 per cent for loans between 500,000 rupees to two million rupees.