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Pak wants to scuttle peace prospects in J&K: Jaswant Excelsior Special Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 29: India has charged Pakistan with continuing its efforts to damage prospects of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India is determined to defeat such attempts, Mr Jaswant Singh, the Minister for External Affairs, has asserted. Mr Jaswant Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that New Delhi has "effectively" brought to the attention of the international community Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism. The international community had also been informed about Pakistan’s "continued attempts" to interfere in the internal affairs of India, he said in reply to a question by Mr AP Jithender Reddy. Reiterating that "facts" regarding Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism had been highlighted in several foreign countries, the External Affairs Minister stated that this issue had also been raised at high-level bilateral discussions with world leaders. Mr Jaswant Singh’s finding: The international community in large measure now recognises Pakistan’s state sponsorship of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India, and the impact this has on the security of India and the region. "This greater awareness", Mr Singh explained, "is being reflected in the international media coverage on Pakistan, as also in statements by official spokesmen of several Governments". The External Affairs Minister asserted that the Union Government had been continuing with its efforts to normalise the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and to hold talks with "all those who are prepared to dialogue, in keeping with the strong desire of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for peace". In his pointed reference to New Delhi’s unilateral cease-fire in J&K, Mr Jaswant Singh said that Indian security forces had been instructed not to initiate combat operations against militants in J&K during the month of Ramzan. On nuclear threat by Pakistan, Mr Ajit Kumar Panja, Minister of State for External Affairs, said in reply to a question by Ms Renu Kumari and Mr Sunder Lal Tiwari that Gen Parvez Musharraf had, in an interview last month, stated that Pakistan could use its nuclear weapons against India if its security was jeopardised. Mr Panja divulged that the Government of India, in its interaction with other countries, continued to highlight Pakistan’s "lack of restraint" on nuclear issues, which, according to him, was also reflected in certain "irresponsible" statements made by Pakistan during the Kargil conflict. He emphasised that this was in contrast with India’s stand of commitment to ‘no-first-use’ and ‘minimum deterrence’. He assured the House that the Government remained fully committed to taking all necessary steps to effectively safeguard India’s security and national interest. "No", was Mr Panja’s reply when Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Mr Sukdeo Paswan enquired if there was any demand for the formation of a ‘Maha-Sangh’ comprising India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Mr Panja said that the question "does not arise" when asked for details in this regard. |
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Kashmiri, foreign militants differences exposed NEW DELHI, Nov 29: The Government’s Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir has exposed differences between the separatist groups comprising Kashmiris and those consisting of foreign mercenaries, which analysts say is due to conflicting agenda and ideologies. While the Ramzan month-long ceasefire, which came into effect from yesterday, has been welcomed by all Kashmiri groups including the Hurriyat Conference and leaders of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the foreign mercenary groups have rejected the offer outrightly and threatened to step up activities during this period. Hizbul Mujahideen, the only powerful Kashmiri militant group, has also not outrightly rejected the offer and said that for the ceasefire to be meaningful, it should be followed by a tripartite dialogue, involving Pakistan. Analysts say the reason for the conflicting reactions is that Kashmiri and pro-Kashmiri groups would tend to see an end to the decade-old bloodshed "as it concerns their brethren" while the foreign mercenaries have no such concern or agenda. "Any Kashmiri or pro-Kashmiri group or individual cannot reject the ceasefire outrightly as they have to be given an impression of working towards creation of an atmosphere which would pave the way for ending violence and bloodshed," says Prof Amitabh Mattoo of JNU’s School of International Studies. Referring to "positive" reaction by Hurriyat Conference, Mattoo said the conglomerate of 23 Kashmiri separatist groups could not afford to reject the offer as its leaders have to keep the interest of brethren Kashmiris in mind. "In contrast, the groups dominated by and consisting of mercenaries have different ideologies and agenda," he adds. Significantly, the Hurriyat had only four months back rebuked Hizbul Mujahideen when it declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire on July 24, terming the move "hasty". "Clearly Hurriyat leadership is under pressure to adopt a conciliatory posture in its approach to resolving the Kashmir issue," said a veteran Kashmiri political leader. Analysts link the Hurriyat stance to US’ insistence that all parties should open dialogue to resolve the issue. Senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone’s call to militant outfits to accept the ceasefire offer is also seen in this context. Mattoo points out that Hizbul Mujahideen had yet not openly welcomed the ceasefire offer and said "it obviously demonstrates that the group is under pressure". According to him, the outfit will accept the ceasefire "but it needs to be given some time". Analysts say Abdul Majid Dar, Hizb’s chief commander in J and K, who had declared the July ceasefire, was yet to react to the Centre’s offer. Dar while announcing the ceasefire on July 24 in Srinagar had said that it was guided by Kashmiris’ aspiration for peace and resolution of the issue through dialogue. In contrast all the mercenary groups, including Lashker-e Toiba, Harkat-ul Mujahideen and Al Badr, have fiercely rejected the Government’s ceasefire offer and threatened to step up their activities during the Ramzan month. The offer has even been hailed by leaders of PoK, with its former Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum saying that the "positive" and "encouraging" move by the Indian Government should be reciprocated in a positive manner. Stating that ceasefire was a good opportunity to move towards solution of the Kashmir issue, Qayyum said "we should not take it (ceasefire offer) in negative perspective ... We should take it positively until India does not come up with any negative thing." Asked about Pakistan’s rejection of the ceasefire offer, he said Islamabad "will soon realise its importance." Holland-based separatist Kashmiri leader Hashim Qureshi has in fact made a scathing attack on the militant outfits which have rejected the ceasefire offer and asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir to "recognise such elements who are trying to sabotage this opportunity". "If a non-Muslim Prime Minister shows respect to the month of Ramzan by declaring ceasefire, militants and Muslim political activists should respond positively," said Qureshi, a founder member of JKLF who now heads his splinter group J and K Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP). "Those elements who have been trying to sabotage peace efforts initiated from any circle, like Hizbul Mujahideen, are again active to sabotage the ceasefire," he said, adding Kashmiris should "appreciate every peace initiative" from any quarter. (PTI) |
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Maximum Central assistance
to J&K From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 29: The Government of India is willing to hold talks with all those militant groups within Jammu and Kashmir who eschew the path of violence. Giving this information in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Vidyasagar Rao, let it be known that the Vajpayee Government had already underscored the need for resolving all issues in the spirit of ‘Insaniyat’. Answering a question by Dr Karan Singh, Mr Vidyasagar Rao stated that as part of its efforts to normalise the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and to hold talks with those prepared for a dialogue, the Government announced on November 19 that security forces had been instructed not to initiate combat operations against militants in J&K during the ‘holy’ month of Ramzan. Mr Rao’s written reply briefly explained that the Government’s instructions, in this regard, had been issued with the hope that the Centre’s gesture would be appreciated and all violence in Jammu and Kashmir and infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) will cease. Mr Vidyasagar Rao confirmed that the Union Government was aware of the deliberations at the recent conference in Srinagar organised by the Kashmir Foundation for Peace and Developmental Studies (KFPDS). In his reply to a question by Mr CO Poulose, Mr Rao said that among other issues reported to have been discussed was a mention about the protection available to the security forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and granting of more powers to human rights organisations to safeguard the human rights of the citizens. Mr Rao pointed out that while the security forces were taking all actions in strict conformity with the law of the land in combating trans-border militancy in J&K, any allegation of human rights violation against any member of the security forces was enquired into and appropriate action taken against that person if the allegation was found to be true. Mr Rao informed the House that both the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the J&K Human rights Commission are also fully empowered to deal with any allegation of human rights violation in Jammu and Kashmir. On the recent accusation by the J&K Chief Minister against the Centre’s anti-Kashmir bias, Mr Vidyasagar Rao stated in reply to a question by Mr P Prabhakar Reddy that Jammu and Kashmir State had been the ‘highest’ recipient of Central assistance even in the special category States. Mr Rao asserted that Central assistance to J&K had more than trebled since 1991. Mr Rao pointed out that as regard the 2000-2001 annual plan, the Planning Commission had intimated that a meeting was held between the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on October 20 this year to determine the resources and the size of the plan. The meeting remained inconclusive. Another meeting was fixed for October 21, which had to be postponed at the "request" of the State Government, Mr Rao added. Mr Rao said in reply to a question by Mr Kartar Singh Duggal that the J&K Government had reported that Rs 35 lakhs had been paid as ex-gratia payment to kin of 35 Sikhs killed in the carnage in March this year. This apart, employment to one member of each family had also been provided. Mr Rao said that the J&K Government had been requested to take all possible steps to provide adequate security to the minority communities. He informed the House that while villages in the Kashmir valley with Sikh population have been provided police pickets, security grid around the villages inhabited by the Sikhs has been strengthened. Patrolling and additional deployment of security personnel in the Sikh-dominated localities have been arranged. In his reply to a question by Mr VV Raghavan and Mr J Chittaranjan, Mr Rao said that well over 5640 incidents of violence took place in J&K in 1998 and 1999 as against 2637 incidents reported between January and November 15 this year. More than 500 security personnel were killed in 1998 and 1999. As many as 346 security personnel were killed between January and November 15 this year. Mr Rao put the number of civilians killed this year (up to November 15) at 630. According to him, as many as 1424 militants were killed in the State from January to Nov 15 this year. Mr Rao said that the Government was aware of the designs of Pakistan’s ISI to revive terrorism in Punjab. Answering a question by Mr VP Duraiswamy, Mr Rao stated that on October 14 this year, a joint team of Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seized from two persons in Libaspur area of North-West Delhi 30 kg of RDX, 2 AK-56 rifles with 6 magazines, 183 live cartridges of 7.62 calibre, 20 pistols with 40 magazines, 717 cartridges of 30 mm calibre, 6 detonators, 9 electronic detonators, 6 ABCD timers and pencil detonators. The Minister informed Mr Anantray Devshanker Dave that border fencing and flood lighting along the Indo-Pakistan border adjoining Punjab and Rajasthan has proved to be effective in containing smuggling, infiltration and ex-filtration. Mr Rao, at the same time, admitted that there had been occasional cases of intruders attempting to cross the border through the fenced area. His assurance: Measures to check such cases have been taken by intensifying border patrolling, posting of sentries on outpost towers, induction of equipment like night vision devices and hand-held search lights. |
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Takes over as DGP from
Jagat Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: Mr A K Suri, an IPS Officer of 1969 batch, took over as new Director General of Police, J&K, relieving Mr Gurbachan Jagat who is taking over DG, BSF tomorrow. All senior officers were present. After handing over the charge, Mr Jagat was given affectionate farewell by PHQ staff and welcomed the new DGP, Mr A K Suri. Speaking on the occasion, the new DGP lauded the role of Mr. Jagat who he said, established high traditions of the force through his inspiring leadership. He said, he will not only carry on these traditions but also strengthen these to the benefit of the force and the State. He said that since 3/4 of BSF was serving in J&K, Mr Jagat would be coming here frequently and thus providing an opportunity of interaction and guidance. "We would always be at his beck and call", Mr Suri said. The new Police Chief said that the State is passing through a critical juncture and the police force will have to strive harder to achieve the goal of restoration of normalcy. Referring to unilateral ceasefire, Mr Suri expressed the hope that better sense will prevail upon the militant outfits and would avail this opportunity of returning to main stream. He said that with the co-operation of security forces and the people normalcy in the State would be restored. The new DGP called upon the Police Officers to have greater interaction with the people and make sincere effort to attend to their problems. "It is our bounded duty to redress the grievances of the people and seek their co-operation in every endeavour", he said and added that our success lies in people’s co-operation. Restoration of peace and putting an end to militancy should be our main agenda, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jagat lauded the work done by the officers and men of different wings of PHQ in planning strategies and taking up proposals/projects with different quarters for clearance. The officers and men at PHQ like others, he said, wanted to go out to take part in action but their contribution has been equally commendable as they are the ones who planned and worked out policies and strategies. Complimenting the new DGP, Mr Jagat said that Mr Suri is a competent and dedicated officer and added that J&K Police will attain new heights of excellence and efficiency under his stewardship. He made a special mention of Chief Minister’s help in clearing many of the proposals for strengthening police force. Expressing his concern to the families of police martyrs, Mr Jagat requested his successor to pay personal attention to the families of our martyrs. He called for an institutional effort to help the children and other members of the families of those who died for the country. "They should not feel neglected" he added. Even after retirement, he would associate with such families who lost their bread earner in action for the country, Mr Jagat said in an emotional voice. Earlier, bidding farewell to Mr Jagat, the Additional Director General of Police, Headquarters, Mr Rajan Bakshi said that Mr Jagat’s four year tenure was a watershed in the rejuvenation of police force in the State. He recounted contributions of Mr Jagat in making state police a modern fighting force ready to meet any challenge. While welcoming the new DGP, Mr Bakshi said that Mr Suri has been here for the last thirty years and as such each one in the police force knows him. He said that the J&K police will work with same degree of dedication under his leadership so that challenges are met with confidence and efficiency. Later, Mr Suri presented a memento to Mr Jagat on behalf of officers and men of PHQ. |
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Fencing of borders will be my priority: DG BSF Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: The newly appointed Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) and outgoing DGP of J&K Mr Gurbachan Jagat today said that fencing of borders across the militancy-infested border State will be one of his top priorities. Mr Gurbachan Jagat, who was given touching farewell by J&K Jat Association today, said that he will accord top priority to the fencing of borders of the State in order to stop further infiltration of Pakistan-inspired militants. "The borders fencing has been delayed due to the unprovoked firing from across the borders by the Pakistani troops", he said and assured every possible steps to complete this long pending work. Mr Jagat added that he would take up the matter with the higher ups to see that the work on fencing of borders was initiated and completed at an earliest. "During my four year’s tenure as DG State Police I have become very much familiar of both weak and strong points of the Border Security Force, whose 70 percent personnel have been deployed in this border State", the Director General of BSF said and added that he will also work towards overcoming the weaknesses and further strengthen the strong points of the force. He assured border people to personally visit their areas to take stock of various problems being faced by them due to firing from across the border. "I will also give due representation to the border people while making recruitment in the Border Security Force (BSF)", Mr Jagat further assured. Choudhary Piara Singh, who had organised this function to bid farewell to outgoing Director General of State Police Mr Gurbachan Jagat, while speaking on the occasion lauded the services rendered by Mr Jagat and expected the same from the newly appointed DG Mr A K Suri. He said that it was only Mr Jagat who made all the police stations in the Valley functional and added that he had never seen any DG who personally visited the far-off area and conducted recruitment. Pointing towards the recruitment of 250 youths of Jat Community in the State police, Mr Singh said that Jat Community will always remain indebted to Mr Jagat. He hoped that Mr Jagat will leave no stone unturned to defend the borders of the State from the enemy. Later, Choudhary Piara Singh presented a memento to DG BSF Mr Gurbachan Jagat. |
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ICB to decide match-fixer cricketers fate next week CALCUTTA, Nov 29: The Cricket Board today deferred till early next week a decision on the punishment to the tainted cricketers involved in match-fixing amidst indications that it will be "stricter" than what has been given in other countries. After a four-hour special general body meeting of the Board, which deliberated on the disciplinary committee’s recommendation on Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Sharma and Nayan Mongia and physiotherapist Ali Irani, its president A C Muthiah said the committee would meet again in Chennai to take a final decision on the punishment issue on December 4 or 5. The five players and Irani appeared before the disciplinary committee in Delhi yesterday to their version before it decided on the Madhavan report. "We have taken the sentiments and views of the general body members and have discussed the issue at great length. We have to take some more opinion before making a final announcement," he said but denied there were any differences in the board on the issue. Muthiah said the Board would not hesitate to give the guilty a punishment ‘stricter’ than what has been given in other countries but added a player’s contribution to the game would be taken into account before taking a final decision. He did not say whether all cricketers named in the CBI and Madhavan reports would be punished but hinted that the ‘extreme step’ of erasing the record of the guilty players was unlikely. He denied suggestions that the board was trying to protect players like Azhar indicted by CBI and held guilty of match fixing by the Board’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner K Madhavan. Rejecting CBI’s observations on its functioning, the Board came out with a leaflet giving a point by point rebuttal of the charges. Muthiah’s comments came after the Board’s special general body meeting deliberated on the disciplinary committee’s proposed punishments on the tainted players, former captain Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Nayan Mongia and Ajay Sharma for over four hours. The Board president said a players contribution to the game could also be taken into account while deciding the quantum of punishment, though he did not clarify whether all cricketers named in the CBI and BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Commissioner, K Madhavan’s reports would be punished. Asked whether it meant that the Board was trying to protect players like Azharuddin, Muthiah said "we are not trying to protect anybody. The general body members had different viewpoints. We have to weigh all these". He said the disciplinary committee was unlikely to take the "extreme step" of erasing the records of the players found guilty of match-fixing though the Board reserved the right to do so. Muthiah said the Board had no intention of making Madhavan’s report public since it was only an internal enquiry and it was now left to the disciplinary committee to take the final decision. On why the Board had deferred taking a final decision on the fate of the players, the BCCI chief said "it is not that we have deferred it. It is just a matter of few days and you will know everything". Muthiah also refuted the CBI’s observations on the functioning of the Board saying that "it was unjustified and inaccurate". (PTI) |
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Farooq asks Pak to respond positively NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today asked Pakistan to respond positively to the Ramzan ceasefire in the State which he said could help in resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue. "Pakistan should respond to the ceasefire announced by India. If it responds positively to the ceasefire, dialogue must resume between the two sides", the Chief Minister told reporters here. Abdullah was responding to queries at an iftar party hosted by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the occasion of international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine. Ambassadors of several Arab nations including Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Alegeria and Palestine attended the iftar party. Describing the ceasefire offer as an initiative for peace, Abdullah said all efforts should be made for early restoration of normalcy in the State. Asked to comment on the killings on the first day of the ceasefire, he said "we should expect such type of incidents as it is bread and butter issue for militants". In Mumbai, National Conference leader and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Omar Abdullah today said ‘people in Kashmir see the unilateral ceasefire as a ray of hope for peace in the Valley’. He had a dig at Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who sought reconsideration of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and said the Sena chief is ‘unhappy with the unilateral ceasefire as it coincides with the month of Ramzan’. ‘There is no question of reconsidering the decision’, Omar told newmen on the sidelines of ‘IT Asia millennium’ conference here. Thackeray, in an editorial in the party’s mouth-piece ‘Saamna’ yesterday, had asked the BJP-led NDA Government to reconsider its decision of unilateral ceasefire in J&K during the holy month of Ramzan. (PTI) |
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End 10-year lull in ties NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Ending a ten-year lull in economic and political ties after the gulf war, India today agreed "in principle" to import oil from Baghdad in return for wheat under the UN’s food-for-oil programme but implemention of the major deal would have to await discussions with world body’s sanctions committee. "An understanding has been reached in principle for import of oil and oil products from Iraq. India, inturn, will export foodgrains to Baghdad under the food-for-oil programme. We will engage in consultations with UN sanctions committee regarding implementation of this understanding in the context of sanctions regime currently in force against Iraq," a foreign office spokesman said. He was briefing reporters on the visit of Iraqi vice president Taha Yassin Ramadhan and the three-day Indo-Iraq Joint Commission meeting from November 26 which was attended by Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and Iraqi Oil Minister A Mohammad Rashid here. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held wide-ranging talks with Ramadhan tonight. An agreement on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation and agreed minutes of the joint commission were signed by Naik and Rashid in the presence of the two leaders. Replying to a question on India’s stand on the sanctions against Iraq imposed after the 1991 gulf war, the spokesman said the sanctions were "unjust, unwarranted and detrimental to the interests of the Iraqi people". Replying to a question on India’s stand on the sanctions against Iraq imposed after the 1991 Gulf war, the spokesman said the sanctions were "unjust, unwarranted and detrimental to the interests of the Iraqi people". He said a decision on the lifting of sanctions should be in tandem with Iraq implementing the Security Council resolutions. Ramadhan, who held wide-ranging talks with Indian leadership, told reporters that India and Iraq have agreed on a framework for cooperation for a long-term strategic partnership and urged New Delhi to look beyond UN sanctions and help in rebuilding its economy. The Foreign Office spokesman did not give out details about the quantity of oil imports from Iraq and whether the prices would be lower than the international market. Official sources said India has been importing about 250 million US dollars worth of oil from Iraq under the food-for-oil programme since 1996 but the volume of import under the new understanding was expected to be much higher. On the meeting Ramadhan had with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, the spokesman said the Iraqi Vice President informed Singh about his leader Saddam Hussain vision of a long-term relationship with India. Ramadhan said the relationship was important "not only in the present context but also has a long-term character to it". He told reporters that a new dimension was being given to bilateral ties with special focus on bolstering economic cooperation. Ramadhan, who is on a five-day official visit, the first high-level from Iraq to India in the last 25 years, said "we found real understanding and appreciation here of the position of Iraq." Describing his visit as a "turning point" in Indo-Iraq relations, Ramadhan said there were now immense prospects for cooperation and expansion of bilateral ties in diversified fields. "Now , we are moving ahead," he said. The Iraqi leader parried questions on whether Baghdad had agreed to sell oil to India at lower rates. (PTI) |
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IED recovered from SRTC
yard Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 29: Even as no major incident of violence was reported on day two of the Prime Minister’s ceasefire with militants from anywhere in Kashmir valley today, unidentified gunmen shot dead a counter-insurgent informer of Police as also a former militant. One IED was recovered from the highly-guarded SRTC bus-yard near Tourist Reception Centre (TRC). Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a couple of unidentified gunmen fired upon a counter-insurgent, namely Mashooq Ahmed Bhat S/o Khizar Mohammad Bhat of Rustum Colony Ikhrajpora, at his shop which is situated yards away from the well-fortified Radio Colony in Raj Bagh area of the capital city. Having received a bullet on his body, Bhat ran away towards his home. But the hitmen chased him and fired four more rounds on him. With critical injuries he was rushed to SKIMS Soura where he breathed his last. Sources said that Bhat was a counter-insurgent helper of SOG and Police whose father had been gunned down on the festival of Idd three years ago. Unconfirmed reports said that Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for Bhat’s murder. Reports available from Anantnag said that unidentified gunmen shot dead a former militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, namely Mohammad Ibraheem Hajam S/o Ghulam Rasool Hajam R/o Ganai Mohalla of Mattan. He was targetted when he was coming out of the local mosque after performing prayers. Residents believe pro-India militants responsible for the killing. Reports said that after his release from jail five years back, Hajam was running a brick-kiln in Mattan area. Meanwhile, Police today recov-ered an IED, planted in a tiffin carrier, from a bathroom inside the Jammu bus-yard of SRTC near TRC, in the capital city. The 2-kg RDX mine was later defused by experts of bomb disposal squad. |
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NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth today conveyed to India Washington’s support for New Delhi’s unilateral ceasefire offer in Jammu and Kashmir. Inderfurth, US President Bill Clinton’s pointman for South Asia, who is on a farewell visit to the sub-continent, had a 40-minute meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh besides exchanging notes with senior MEA officials. During the meetings, Inderfurth reaffirmed US backing for New Delhi’s move set in motion during the holy month of Ramzan. Inderfurth, who arrived here from Sri Lanka, will also visit Nepal and Bhutan. Washington has said India’s peace offer was well in line with the suggestions made by Clinton during his trip to India and Pakistan in March this year. Clinton had advocated that Line of Control in Kashmir should be respected, both India and Pakistan should exercise military restraint, violence in the State should end and the two neighbours should resume their stalled dialgoue. (PTI) |
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Army not
vulnerable to ceasefire declaration, PUNE, Nov 29: Army Chief General S Padmanabhan today said the security forces would retaliate if militants carried out attacks during the Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army would "surely reciprocate attacks of militant groups", the Army Chief told reporters after the 99th passing out parade of the National Defence Academy here. He, however, made it clear that the Army would not undertake any operations that would create problems for the people in the State. He said the killing of four jawans in a mine blast in the State yesterday should not be considered as an "outcome" of the ceasefire declaration as militant groups carried out such attacks to hamper peace in the region. Regarding reported construction of roads by the Chinese in the Indian side of Line of Actual Control, Padmanabhan said there was a problem in perception about LAC between the two countries. "We have brought this matter to their notice," he said, adding exchange of maps of LAC took place between the two countries at a recent meeting to resolve the border dispute. (PTI) |
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BJP single largest party in UP local bodies polls LUCKNOW, Nov 29: Ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the single largest party in the local bodies elections barring the Nagar Panchayat chairmen and its members, where its main rival the Samajwadi Party (SP) has an edge over it, the State Election Commission said today. The SP closely followed the BJP in the elections to Mayors, Corporators and the Chairmen of Nagar Palika Parishad and its members, State Election Commissioner Yashpal Singh told reporters here. The BJP won six Mayoral posts of Lucknow, Varanasi, Aligarh, Agra, Moradabad and Ghaziabad. The Allahabad seat went to SP, while the BSP won Meerut. Two independents including an eunuch won Bareilly and Gorakhpur Mayoral seats. Of the 830 corporators, BJP won 256 followed by SP 189 and BSP 119. The Congress and independents got 110 each. Of 192 Nagar Palika Parishad chairmen seats, BJP led with 47 seats, SP stood at number two with 37, followed by BSP 23, and Congress 18. Of 418 Nagar Panchayat Chairmen, the SP bagged 71, pushing BJP to number two position with 60, while the BSP got 56. (PTI) |
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RANCHI, Nov 29: Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi will expand his Cabinet for a second time on December one. Marandi, after his return from New Delhi today, told reporters that nearly 18 MLAs will be inducted into his Council of Ministers on December one. "The size of my Cabinet will be somewhere between 23-25," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister, who held parleys with senior party colleagues including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani in New Delhi over the last three days to finalise the list of Ministers to be inducted in the Cabinet, said about 12 MLAs will be given Cabinet rank. Marandi, who leads a BJP-led NDA Government in Jharkhand, expanded his Ministry for the first time on November 16 when he inducted 10 non-BJP MLAs of the NDA into his Council of Ministers, out of which six were given the Cabinet rank. (PTI) |
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PATNA, Nov 29: RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav was today granted provisional bail by Patna High Court in connection with a disproportionate assets case. Justice S K Singh granted bail to Yadav extending the period of provisional bail for three months from today and asked him to furnish a bail bond of Rs two lakh and two sureties of like amount to secure his release. Yadav was yesterday remanded to judicial custody and sent to Beur Jail by designated CBI Judge S K Pathak in the absence of any order from the High Court on his (Yadav’s) prayer for extension or confirmation of the provisional bail period which expired on November 27. Justice Singh, in his order, said the period of provisional bail would be valid till March 31 and the matter would be taken up by the court on February 26. Opposing Yadav’s supplementary affidavit for grant of bail, CBI standing counsel Rakesh Kumar urged the court not to entertain the supplementary petition and ask his counsel for filing a fresh application for regular or provisional bail in the case. He said Yadav should have moved the court afresh seeking bail as he is now under judicial custody. Justice Singh, however, refused to entertain Kumar’s argument saying the court had not disposed of Yadav’s earlier petition for extension of period of provisional bail and listed the matter for hearing on November 27. The court had on May 10 granted provisional bail to Yadav for a period of three months. It was extended for a further period of three months on August 16 and subsequently on November 16 the court adjourned the hearing till November 27 so no fresh petition was required, he observed. On CBI counsel’s request for extending the days of trial from four to five days every week, Justice Singh observed that the investigating agency may file a petition in the trial court on the matter for speedy trial in the case and the matter would be decided by the lower court on merit. He said CBI had come to the court showing certain allegations against the accused (Laloo) with respect to tampering of evidences. The agency is at liberty to probe such matters and produce relevant documents in support of the allegations for cancellation of the bail and the court will decide it on merit. He also emphasised taking steps for ensuring completion of trial in the case within a stipulated period. The DA case charges Yadav with having accumulated wealth of over Rs 47 lakh disproportionate to his known sources of income between 1990 and 1996. Chief Minister Rabri Devi is a co-accused in this case. (PTI) |
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