Pramod Mahajan's daughter Poonam joins BJP

MUMBAI, Oct 30 (Agencies): Late senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan's daughter Poonam today formally joined BJP on her father's birth anniversary.

"I am joining as an ordinary member and would like to continue my father's legacy and fulfil his dream," Poonam told reporters at the city BJP headquarters after taking up the primary membership of the party.

Poonam's brother Rahul, who was also present along with his uncle and BJP leader Gopinath Munde, said he felt "very happy" for his sister joining the party.

Asked when he would be joining, Rahul said joining the party is a mere formality and it is important to keep working for the party.

India wants more multilateral naval exercises with neighbours ON BOARD INS MYSORE, Oct 30 (Agencies): Indian Navy wants more joint multilateral exercises especially with its neighbours, including Pakistan, a senior commnader said today.

This was stated by chief of Western Command Fleet Rear Admiral Anup Singh during the course of Indo-US joint exercise 'Malabar 06' underway off the Goa coast.

Royal Canadian Navy is also partcipating in it.

"As you can see, it (Malabar 06) is not a bilateral exercise....

We intend to graduate into multinational exercise canvass which would generate confidence between participating nations," he told reporters on board the warship.

"We hope some day Pakistan will be able to join us (India) in some exercise," Singh said adding, "we alwaysneed to built confidence with neighbours sharing common waters." Singh said such exercises were beneficial to participating navies as it provided access to higher technology.

"For the US Navy, the exercises would enable them to learn to operate in warm environment," he said.

The ninth edition of Malabar wargames, which began on October 24, entered its second phase today.

The third and last phase of the joint exercise, consisting of combat operations, will culminate on November 25.

The US navy is participating with its expeditionary strike group (ESG) comprising amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, guided missile destroyers USS Benfold and USS Howard, guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill with coast guard ship USCGC Midgett.

The nuclear-powered submarine, SSN Providence, and maritime patrol aircraft P-3C Orion, operating from Goa are supporting ESG.

Giving it a multinational dimension, the ESG also has Canadian frigate HMC Ottawa as part of the force.