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Another
ultra captured in encounter Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: Doda Police today achieved a major success when it gunned down four hardcore militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit including Liaquat Balouch, a ‘district commander’ of the outfit and his two body-guards after a fierce gun-battle in village Dariya, about two kms from Bhaderwah in Doda district. Another militant was captured alive. Liaquat Balouch, who carried a reward of Rs 1.50 lakhs on his head for his involvement in over a dozen killings of civilians, was a most wanted militant in Doda district. His killing was a big blow to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. SSP Doda Ashkoor Wani, who supervised the operation, told EXCELSIOR that STF Bhaderwah got an information about the presence of Balouch and his body-guards besides other militants in a house at village Dariya where they were holding a strategy session. STF personnel sealed all exit routes leading to the village and cornered the house at about 1000 hours today where they militants had taken shelter. The STF jawans were welcomed by the militants with raining of bullets from AK-47 rifles when former asked them to surrender. Police jawans retaliated and in the fierce exchange of firing that lasted an hour, the cops succeeded in eliminating four militants and apprehended another alive. The operation was executed in a neat and clean manner with cops suffering no casualty on their side. Bodies of four militants were recovered from the house and later identified as Liaquat Balouch, a ‘district commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen, his body-guards Farid Khan and Jehangir Khan and Abdul Rehman, a ‘deputy district commander’ of the outfit. Another ultra Imran Khan was arrested. All the militants were locals, Wani said, adding Balouch was among the longest surviving militants in Doda as he was operating in the district for the last 10 years ever since the militancy broke out in the district. Balouch alongwith his body-guards Farid and Jehangir and deputy Abdul Rehman was involved in a series of civilians killings across the district especially in Bhaderwah tehsil besides attacks on security forces and other activities. His killing has delivered a major setback to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Recovery made from the possession of slain militants included four AK-47 rifles, one pistol, one wireless set, eight magazines, one grenade launcher and one binocular. Troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles and 8 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also assisted STF in the operation. Police sources said with the arrest of Imran Khan, Doda police have also worked out the Seri Bazaar blast in Bhaderwah the other day. Imran Khan, during preliminary questioning, has disclosed the identity of a Hizbul militant, who had lobbed a grenade in Seri Bazaar in which two civilians were killed and 17 others were injured. Sources, however, declined to disclose the identity of militant involved in the blast for ‘operational reasons’ as he was yet to be arrested. However, they said, the ultra was a local and activist of the same outfit. Meanwhile, Director General of Police, Gurbachan Jagat has congratulated the police personnel involved in the encounter and 6 of the SPOs have been regularised as Constables. |
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Near total bandh in Jammu for statehood demand Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: Normal life in the Jammu city and adjoining areas was thrown out of gear today in response to a bandh call given by the newly constituted Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front as part of its on-going agitation for the reorganisation of the State. Supported by Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad (ABVP) and some other social organisations, response of the bandh was total in the walled city but it received partial response in the out-skirts. Barring some stone-pelting incidents and mild lathicharge by the police, bandh by and large remained peaceful, amidst unprecedented security arrangement. Most of the shops, bussiness establishment and schools remained closed and public transport were off the road. Some mini-buses and auto-rickshaws were seen plying in the out-skirts in the morning. In the afternoon only private vehicles were plying on the roads. Functionings in the Government offices, banks and others institutions were normal but attendence of these institutions was badly affected due to the bandh. In the old city shopkeepers voluntarily shut-down their shops but bandh supporters had to convince shopkeepers in the out-skirts of the city to observe bandh. Though some shop-keepers opened their shutters in the evening but the ever-busy Raghunath Bazar today wore deserted look. Most of the Vaishno Devi Yatris preferred to remain in their hotels and lodges due to the bandh. Since morning bandh supporters were seen moving from one bazar to another and asking shopkeepers not to open their shops. At various places bandh supporters burnt tyres on the roads to disrupt the normal traffic. Police had to use mild force to disperse the ABVP workers who were disrupting traffic in front of the Women College, Parade. Slogan shouting students dispersed after the lathicharge but they re-grouped and brunt tyres on the road. Some bandh supporters also pelted stones on some vehicles. Bandh supporters, who were disrupting traffic, also entered into a scuffle with police at Bus Stand, Nai-Basti and Satwari. Some persons received minor injuries in the scuffles. The local administration has made elaborate security arrangements in the city and out-skirts in view of the bandh on the opening of the Civil Secretariat in the Winter Capital. Heavy police contingents were deployed in the sensitive and vital points to avoid any untoward incident. There was unprecedented security arrangement at Shalamar Chowk and all around Civil Secretariat. Later talking to reporters, convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Front, Mr Tilak Raj Sharma has claimed that bandh was an unprecedent success due to the spontaneous participation of the people of the Jammu region. Mr Sharma said that call of the bandh was given in support of the demand for creation of Jammu State. Taking strong notice of the statement of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, JKNF leader said that it was not necessary to take Farooq’s statement seriously. "He is habitual of giving irresponsible statement", he said. Jammu Mukti Morcha chief Prof Varinder Gupta, who was also present in the press conference joined issue with the Chief Minister and claimed that their agitation was purely non-political and secular. Taking serious exception of the statement of some leaders who are dubbing trifurcation agitation as ‘communal’, Prof Gupta said that those who have been raising hue and cry over trifurcation demand have to realised that different communities have been living in Jammu region with amity and brotherhood. He was of the view that some politicians trying to communalise the situation to sabotage the on-going agitation. He said that they would intensity their agitation to achieve their goal. "No power on earth can stop creating of separate Jammu state", he asserted. JKNF leader said that their 15 workers were injured in police lathicharge at different places. They accused the police of using force against peaceful demonstrators at Bus-Stand, Nai-Basti and Parade Ground. |
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Trifurcation of
J&K ruled out Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that there could be no talk with Pakistan except on putting an end to trans border terrorism as State’s accession with India is non-negotiable. Talking to media persons on the opening of Civil Secretariat and other Darbar Move offices at winter capital this morning, the Chief Minister said "Pakistan is the major challenge to J&K that has not yet realized the fact that nothing is better than peace with India and no war threat can work". When asked to comment on former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Syed's statement about initiating talks with Pakistan, Dr Abdullah quipped "Mufti Syed should have gone to Pakistan and sorted out the issue when he himself was the Union Home Minister. For us, J&K is a part of India and no discussions with Pakistan or anybody else could be held on its territorial integrity". He said unlike Mufti Syed's stance, his stand on this issue is firm and consistent. "I don't change stand from situation to situation", he added. Clarifying his statement about normalization of Indo-Pak relations in 20 years ahead, the Chief Minister said that he gave his own assessment about relationship between the two neighbours two decades hence. He said that he is not a godman like Chandraswami, who according to a newspaper, DAILY EXCELSIOR has predicted peace between India and Pakistan in 2-3 years hence. When asked about his observation on converting LoC into international border, Dr Abdullah said this is what he thinks the only possible solution. "If anybody has any other solution, let me know", he asked. The Chief Minister described speeding up of development works, unemployment and paucity of funds are other major challenges before his Government. He said challenges would continue to confront us and in fact, every day we face these but with the grace of God we have moved ahead since 1996. Dr Abdullah said situation in Kashmir valley is much better what it was four years ago. Describing it as a qualitative change, he said, notwithstanding continued violence here and there, the mood in the Valley has undergone transformation once pre-dominant and discernable pro-Pak wave has disappeared. Political leaders move around a lot. They are criticizing the Government which is good for democracy. He said the Government on its part has provided opportunity to opposition to move around and interact with the people. The cultural activities have been revived. The Chief Minister complimented the people of Kashmir for rising to the occasion and maintaining peace and order in the wake of highly provocative killing of Shia leader, Aga Syed Mehdi by militants in a mine blast. He said people have seen through the designs of Pakistan, which through militants had nearly succeeded in fomenting Shia-Sunni divide. By the grace of God, peace has been restored and credit for this goes only to people saying that administration effort along could not have yielded dividend. He, however, lashed out at Pakistan and her lackeys for consistently attempting to engineer Shia-Sunni tension. He said they had made bids on the life of another Shia leader twice in the past, by providential intervention, he survived on both these occasions. The Chief Minister ruled out any possibility of trifurcation of J&K and said that there is no question of dividing the State on religious lines. Answering questions on this issue, Dr Abdullah said that it is unfortunate that the political leaders befool the people and resort to agitations. But, this will not change the basic reality that J&K State can not be divided. He reminded that in early 50's the State faced Praja Parishad agitation also but nothing happened. Dr Farooq Abdullah, however, advised RSS to not to divide people if they want India to remain secular and win over the hearts of the people. He said "I know RSS very well". |
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Bhattacharjee sworn in as 7th CM of WB CALCUTTA, Nov 6: Marxist leader and playwright Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was today sworn in as the seventh Chief Minister of West Bengal at a simple function at Raj Bhavan here marking an end to a glorious era of living legend Jyoti Basu. Governor Viren J Shah administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Bhattacharjee. Mr Basu himself was present with his actress granddaughter Doel at the banquet hall of Raj Bhavan to witness the change of guard for the first time in the Left Front’s regime of over 23 years. "No one can replace Mr Basu. But what we can do is to work collectively to fill the void created by his retirement. I will try to fulfil the aspirations of the people as far as possible," Mr Bhattacharjee told reporters after the ceremony. He said his Government would work collectively to make it more responsible and responsive towards people’s problems. "We have to take the Government closer to the people," he said. The new Chief Minister said his Government’s immediate task would be to carry out massive reconstruction in flood-ravaged districts of the State and provide succour. Mr Shah also administered the oath of office and secrecy to 42 members of Mr Basu’s Council. Cooperation Minister Bhakti Bhusan Mondal could not attend the ceremony as he was indisposed. The Trinamool Congress, the principal opponent of the ruling Left Front boycotted the swearing-in ceremony alleging Mr Bhattacharjee’s failure to curb violence unleashed by CPI(M) cadres on party workers in various parts of the State. The Trinamool Congress also sat on a demonstration at the foot of the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road, when Mr Bhattacharjee was being sworn in. Besides Mr Basu, those present during the ceremony, were Mr Bhattacharjee’s mother Leela Devi, his wife Meera, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri, Prof Hiren Mukherjee, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim, Advocate General Naranarayan Gooptu, MP Somnath Chatterjee and Indian cricket team captain Saurav Ganguly. Also present were a galaxy of cultural luminaries including Amitava Chaudhury, Suchitra Mitra, Aparna Sen, Ruma Guhathakurta, Ashok Mukherjee, Sandipan Chattopadhya, eminent industrialists, representatives of the chambers of commerce and diplomatic core, senior civil and military officials and leaders of different political parties and the ruling Left Front. (UNI) |
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Kabul doesn’t care a
tuppence about US From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 6: The dreaded anti-Indian outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba, aided and abetted by Islamabad, has threatened to intensify terrorist-games in Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit’s plan will, in fact, cover "India as a whole", the Lashkar’s thin-tank member, Mr Hafiz Saeed, has just announced in Peshawar. That the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba planners and strategists are in a hurry to galvanise the public support for the on-going "liberation struggle" in Kashmir has been borne out by the drafting of teams of motivated preachers to various places in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) for attracting fresh recruits to be trained in centres for jihadis and raising funds for Kashmir’s mujahideen and, to quote Mr Hafiz Saeed, for the families of those "brutally killed by Indian troops". And the highly pronounced anti-India accent and sentiment surfaced in Sargodha in Peshawar the other day, when a congregation of activists and followers of the Lashkar-e-Toiba demonstrated, in unmistakable terms, the determination of the Lashkar to keep the anti-India pot boiling in Jammu and Kashmir. The congregation threw up a few disturbing signals. One, the Lashkar-e-Toiba will not permit holding of talks with the Indian Government. Two, the Lashkar will concentrate not only in J&K but also in other parts of India to "teach a lesson or two to anti-Muslim forces". Three, all efforts will be made to prevent various forces, particularly western countries, from executing their ‘conspiracies’ against the continuance of jihadi organisations. The Lashkar-e-Toiba leadership has also warned the powers-that-be in Islamabad not to pursue the US game-plan vis-à-vis Afghanistan’s Taliban and jihadi organisations. Obviously, the Lashkar wants Pakistan to sponsor international terrorism. A conflicting pattern has emerged: US and Pakistan have their 50-year-old guardian-ward relationship intact, while at the same time Islamabad cosies up to its ultra-Islamic friends in Afghanistan. It is universally known that the United States has serious problems with Afghanistan as the latter shelters Washington’s most wanted man, Osma bin Laden. Much has been said and perhaps much more written on the US directive to Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, to persuade Mullah Omar, the hardliner supremo in Kabul, to hand over Osama bin Laden. And Mullah Omar has refused to play ball as a result of which the Pakistani ruling lord is stuck between a rock and a hard place. It can be safely said that Pakistan has become a football to be kicked between the two posts of Washington and Kabul. And to mount further pressure on Islamabad, the UN Security Council, through which Washington often practises its skills of ventriloquism, warns Kabul of unspecified measures if it does not stop terrorists from using its territory. So far, Kabul has not cared a tuppence about the US warnings. The US administration has called for "extra vigilance and caution" by the Americans across the world after Osama bin Laden was reported to have expressed "delight" over the attack on a US warship in Yemen that killed 17 American sailors. A pan-Arab newspaper, Al-Hayat, had an interesting revelation: "Bin Laden knelt and thanked Allah for the operation which has shaken the American military reputation. Bin Laden has expressed his happiness and delight for the blowing up the destroyer". The US Administration has chosen to reiterate that a group led by the Saudi-born dissident was at the top of a list of organisations suspected in the October bombing that also crippled the destroyer USS Cole. And Washington also chose to reiterate its message to Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to expel Saudi millionaire, blamed by the US for planning attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, which had killed more than 200 people and injured several hundreds. On the other hand, the Taliban has, as usual, chosen to attach little importance to Washington’s warnings. Taliban’s spokesman, Mullah Mohammed Tayeb, has been reported to have vehemently denied Washington’s allegation that Osama bin Laden was involved in the attack on the USS Cole. Osama is on the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted" list and the US has a 5 million dollar bounty out for his capture. |
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HM militant, civilian killed in Basantgarh Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: A militant and a civilian were killed in an encounter with Border Security Force (BSF), assisted by Special Task Force (STF), at village Soni in Khaned area under the jurisdiction of Basantgarh police station last night. According to official sources, BSF jawans developed an information about the presence of a couple of militants in Khaned area and subsequently launched an operation in the village. Late last night, security personnel spotted two militants moving in village Soni, about 15 kms from Basantgarh and challenged them. However, the militants fled into a house and took shelter there. They also used the house inmates as human shield in a bid to escape from security dragnet. However, BSF jawans engaged the militants in encounter and after 20 minutes exchange of firing killed one of them. A civilian, who was being used by the militants as a human shield, was also trapped in the exchange of firing and got killed. However, BSF or STF didn’t sustain any casualty in the operation. One AK-47 rifle with four magazines, three hand grenades, one wireless set and a pouch were recovered from the scene of encounter. Identity of slain militant couldn’t be established immediately but he was believed to be a local ultra affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. A civilian killed in the gun-battle was identified as Mohd Afzal Umar son of Master Umar Din, a resident of Soni, Khaned. BSF jawans have stepped-up searches in the entire Khaned area to eliminate another militant, who managed to escape during the encounter. However, he remained untraced till the last reports came in. |
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CM disapproves ban on
cricketers Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today disapproved the ban imposed on some cricketers by the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) pending further enquiry on alleged match fixing charges. During his informal meeting with media persons on the opening of Civil Secretariat and other move offices in the winter capital here today, Chief Minister said, "unless proved guilty it is wrong to impose ban on playing cricket." While replying to a question that ban on Ajay Jadeja has deprived Jammu and Kashmir cricket team of an inspiring captain, he said. "We should not have obstructed our players without proving charges conclusively," he added. Ajay Jadeja during his first Ranji trophy match with Haryana led Jammu and Kashmir to victory but on his exit Jammu and Kashmir faced defeat in the second match. On Central support and delay in finalising State’s Annual Plan, the Chief Minister said the plan has been delayed due to discrepancies in the figures of the Planning Commission and the State. "This has been sorted out now and we are waiting for a meeting with the Planning Commission". Replying questions on his recent meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr Abdullah said that he broached with him various areas where State needs Centre's liberal help. He said while we are demanding liberal assistance from the Centre, we should not forget that they too have problems. We want the Centre to appreciate our difficulties arising out of a war, we are fighting here. He said that during his recent visit to Police Training Centre at Sheeri Baramulla, he found that young recruits were sleeping on floor for want of building for which funds were not released in time leading to its delay. On charges of non-governance, the Chief Minister asked that if this is correct how would you explain the development that has taken place in the State during the past four years. He said as many as 143 gutted bridges have been constructed in Kashmir valley and 33 in Jammu region. Several roads have been constructed in the Valley. He mentioned few of them as Vailoo-Kokernag, Srinagar Bandipora besides Sinthon. He said this has been done despite of fund constraints. He said much more is yet to be done and, moreover, development is related to the availability of funds. |
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Omar Abdullah among 5 young Indians chosen as GLT Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Omar Abdullah is among the five Indians under 40 years age group who has been chosen as the Global Leaders of Tomorrow (GLT) from India by the World Economic Forum, Geneva. Mr Abdullah has been selected for taking initiative in several social, cultural and economic activities which include upliftment of poor children, educating them about the benefits of nutrition and hygiene in villages of Himachal Pradesh. Besides Mr Abdullah, the other four Indians selected are Messrs Dewang Mehta, president, NASSCOM, Sanjay Bhatnagar, chairman and ECO, Enron India Ltd, Nikhil Nanda, Executive Director, Escorts Ltd and Raghav Bahl, Managing Director, Television Eighteen of India Ltd. Launched in 1992, the GLT initiative is a response to the evident need for a new approach to global leadership in the post cold war era. The mission of the GLT is to create a worldwide network of individuals for dynamic mutual support in facing challenges of leadership for economic and social progress. India already has the distinction of having 22 GLTs from different walks of life. In line with the World Economic Forum’s commitment to improving the state of the world, these GLTs will be integrated into the activities with the objective to identify and address future-oriented issues of the global agenda in a proactive, innovative and entrepreneurial ways. The Global leaders would be formally integrated into the Indian chapter of the GLT Forum on Sunday November 26 coinciding with the Indian Economic Summit organised by the World Economic Forum and Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi. |
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Cave-cum-hideout blasted Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 6: Thanna Mandi Brigade of Romeo Force and police tonight eliminated two foreign mercenaries in an encounter at village Dhara, about four kms from Thanna Mandi. A natural cave, being used by the militants as a hideout, was blasted by the army. DIG Rajouri Ram Labaya said troops and police this morning received an information from some local people that a natural cave was being used by the militants as a hideout for shelter and dumping arms and ammunition for the last one week. Troops started searches in the village and came across the hideout this afternoon. Army jawans laid an ambush to wait for the militants, who used to come to the hideout in the night. As the militants were spotted in the village, army jawans asked them to lay down their arms and surrender. However, the militants opened firing on troops and tried to escape back into a forest area from where they had emerged. Romeo Force jawans retaliated and gunned down two militants on the spot. After killing of their two associates, other ultras fled into the forest area and remained untraced. No casualty was reported on army side. Troops also blasted the cave, which was being used by the militants as their hideout, the sources said, adding from the scene of encounter army recovered two AK-47 rifles, one Rocket Projectile Gun (RPG), one Piki gun and a large quantity of ammunition and explosive devices. More troops also rushed to the village after getting a message of the encounter. A search operation has been launched by the army in the village to track down the absconding militants but there was no report of any fresh encounter so far. |
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Vajpayee Ministry to be expanded today NEW DELHI, Nov 6: The Union Council of Ministers will be expanded tomorrow to be followed by a reshuffle of portfolios even as Minister of State for Environment Babulal Marandi resigned tonight to make himself available as NDA’s candidate for Jharkhand Chief Ministership. BJP’s firebrand leader Uma Bharati, who had resigned early this year from the Ministry to concentrate on politics in Madhya Pradesh, is expected to be reinducted, BJP sources said. Karia Munda, a tribal BJP MP from Jharkhand, is also likely to find a ministerial berth and given charge of Rural Development Ministry from where M Venkaiah Naidu is expected to be shifted to Surface Transport Ministry which fell vacant by the resignation of Rajnath Singh, now UP Chief Minister. Minister of State for Law Arun Jaitley, holding independent charge, is likely to be elevated to cabinet rank and the portfolio of Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is likely to be changed, the sources said. President K R Narayanan, who is in Ujjain, is returning to the Capital tomorrow afternoon. Marandi’s resignation has been forwarded to Narayanan for acceptance. Munda was a cabinet minister in the 13-day old Vajpayee Government in 1996. (PTI) |
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JMM (S) pulls out of NDA, courts RJD NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha today pulled out of National Democratic Alliance, miffed over denial of Chief Ministership of the new State of Jharkhand to its leader Sibu Soren. Announcing the parting of ways, Soren, with considerable following among tribals, expressed confidence that he would be able to form the Government by seeking realignment with RJD, Congress and Left Parties. In the 81-member Assembly for the new State, BJP (32), along with eight members of allies Samata Party and JD(U) and two independents, claims a majority, though very thin. Soren, who belongs to the largest tribal segment of the region, Santhals, claims he was assured the Chief Ministership of Jharkhand in return for his party’s support for a short-lived bid by NDA to form its Government in Bihar after the last Assembly elections in March this year. JMM sources said Soren was hopeful of a backlash and rebellion among tribal members of BJP combine over denial of the top post to JMM which had been in the forefront of the agitation for Jharkhand State. The pullout by JMM-S has thrown up the possibility of interesting new alignment of forces with JMM again courting RJD with which it had fallen out because of the former’s opposition to creation of the new State. But with RJD, under pressure from Congress, finally agreeing to the bifurcation of the State, the possibility of its realignment with the erstwhile ally JMM-S brightened. Soren said he had convened a meeting of his party mlas in Patna tomorrow to review the situation. He said since no party is in majority, he would rebuild contact with all non-NDA parties and independents to muster support. "Anything can happen when the time comes", he said indicating that NDA partners Samata and JD-U could also support him and there could even be a split in the BJP as "it also has several tribal members" Dismissing as "100 per cent wrong" predictions that his party might suffer a split, he said this was a "canard" spread by vested interests and nothing of that sort would happen. The proposed Jharkhand Assembly which will have 81 members would be a hung house with NDA partners BJP having 32, Samata Party five and JD-U three. Among non-NDA parties JMM has 12, Congress 11, RJD 9, CPI three, CPI-ML and MCC one each, UGDP two and independents two. However, NDA claims support of two independents. Soren recalled that the NDA had installed Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar as the Bihar Chief Minister early this year after the Assembly polls despite the fact that Samata had lesser number of seats than BJP. Therefore, the logic that JMM with fewer seats in Jharkhand than BJP could not claim chief ministership was not valid. Soren said NDA had also promised the JMM-S then that they would back it in Jharkhand. "But when the time has come, BJP has gone back on its commitment and wants the Chief Ministership to itself". (PTI) |
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ALLAHABAD, Oct 6: Police recovered a huge cache of arms from houses of three notorious arms smugglers here today. Fifty three revolvers and pistols and 244 live cartriges were recovered in raids on the houses in Akbarpur, Kareli and Zatala localities and three persons were arrested in this connection, police said. According to SSP V K Tiwari, the factory-made arms were purchased from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Punjab and Nepal. The criminals confessed during interrogation that they used to supply these arms to different places in the country, Tiwari said. (PTI) |
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IAF for AJT aircraft minus American components: Tipnis NAGPUR, Nov 6: The Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) that the Indian Air Force was contemplating to acquire in near future will be minus the American components, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis said here today. "We don’t want American components in AJTs simply to avoid the effects of US sanctions", Tipnis told a press conference. The negotiations on AJTs deal was in its prime stage, he said and expressed hope that it would be finalised by the year-end. "It will take roughtly two to three years for actual acquisition of the aircraft", he said. The IAF will acquire about 70 aircraft initially, Tipnis stated. To a query over the inordinate delay in finalising the deal for AJTs purchase, Tipnis listed various factors involved. Mere purchase is not only on agenda but ground support facilities and spares and components for repairs and maintenance assume equal significannce, which the IAF is taking care of, he asserted. When his attention was drawn towards the graph of MiG 21 crashes showing an upward trend, Tipnis claimed these operational aircraft used for training, though are quite old (since 1963) but still have good airworthiness. He admitted candidly that about 40 per cent of causes of MiG-21 crashes were due to human errors. However, he clarified that the pilots are imparted a high degree of training for a long duration to avoid any chance of accidents. Tipnis said the first batch of MiG 21 was included in the airforce fleet wayback in 1963. Periodic inspection and aging tests are routinely conducted to keep the MiG 21 fit for flying, he said to a query. He cited two main reasons for aviation accidents in the country, poor visibility and bird hits. The thick screen of smoke from domestic chimneys from slums near the airports and from industrial units are causing great amount of hardship for the pilots to locate the airport bases while flying. Indian skies are the worst polluted ones, he said. Similarly bird hits are another major factor for accidents, he added. "I recently flew a MiG 21 aircraft to dispel the apprehensions in the minds of young trainee pilots about airworthiness of these training aircraft", Tipnis asserted. Tipnis, who earlier inaugurated a commanders’ conference of Headquarters Maintenance Command (HQMC), complimented HQMC for keeping an excellent maintenance record of all IAF transport and fighter planes, machines and equipments. (PTI) |
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JMM (S) pulls out of NDA, courts RJD NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha today pulled out of National Democratic Alliance, miffed over denial of Chief Ministership of the new State of Jharkhand to its leader Sibu Soren. Announcing the parting of ways, Soren, with considerable following among tribals, expressed confidence that he would be able to form the Government by seeking realignment with RJD, Congress and Left Parties. In the 81-member Assembly for the new State, BJP (32), along with eight members of allies Samata Party and JD(U) and two independents, claims a majority, though very thin. Soren, who belongs to the largest tribal segment of the region, Santhals, claims he was assured the Chief Ministership of Jharkhand in return for his party’s support for a short-lived bid by NDA to form its Government in Bihar after the last Assembly elections in March this year. JMM sources said Soren was hopeful of a backlash and rebellion among tribal members of BJP combine over denial of the top post to JMM which had been in the forefront of the agitation for Jharkhand State. The pullout by JMM-S has thrown up the possibility of interesting new alignment of forces with JMM again courting RJD with which it had fallen out because of the former’s opposition to creation of the new State. But with RJD, under pressure from Congress, finally agreeing to the bifurcation of the State, the possibility of its realignment with the erstwhile ally JMM-S brightened. Soren said he had convened a meeting of his party mlas in Patna tomorrow to review the situation. He said since no party is in majority, he would rebuild contact with all non-NDA parties and independents to muster support. "Anything can happen when the time comes", he said indicating that NDA partners Samata and JD-U could also support him and there could even be a split in the BJP as "it also has several tribal members" Dismissing as "100 per cent wrong" predictions that his party might suffer a split, he said this was a "canard" spread by vested interests and nothing of that sort would happen. The proposed Jharkhand Assembly which will have 81 members would be a hung house with NDA partners BJP having 32, Samata Party five and JD-U three. Among non-NDA parties JMM has 12, Congress 11, RJD 9, CPI three, CPI-ML and MCC one each, UGDP two and independents two. However, NDA claims support of two independents. Soren recalled that the NDA had installed Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar as the Bihar Chief Minister early this year after the Assembly polls despite the fact that Samata had lesser number of seats than BJP. Therefore, the logic that JMM with fewer seats in Jharkhand than BJP could not claim chief ministership was not valid. Soren said NDA had also promised the JMM-S then that they would back it in Jharkhand. "But when the time has come, BJP has gone back on its commitment and wants the Chief Ministership to itself". (PTI) |
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Minor reshuffle of Vajpayee Ministry today, Uma may return NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will undertake a minor reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers tomorrow with the likely induction of a few new faces. President K R Narayanan, who is in Ujjain, is returning to the capital tomorrow afternoon. Uma Bharati, who had resigned early this year from the Government to concentrate on state politics in Madhya Pradesh, is expected to be re-inducted, BJP sources said. With the Surface Transport Ministry falling vacant following resignation by Rajnath Singh to assume the Chief Ministership of Uttar Pradesh, the portfolio is likely to go to the Rural Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. Karia Munda, a tribal MP from Jharkhand belt, is likely to be made a minister and given charge of Rural Development. Munda was a Cabinet Minister in the 13-day Government of Vajpayee in 1996. Minister of State for Environment and Forest Babu Lal Marandi, is likely to submit his resignation as he is being tipped for Chief Ministership of the new Jharkhand state. (PTI) |
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