Excelsior... Nation

British exports to India are up
Reforms process in
India ‘somewhat
zig-zig’: UK envoy

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: The British High Commissioner in India, Sir Rob Young, has let it be known that the ultimate test of the reforms policy being pursued in India lay its successful implementation rather than in legislative action or exultation.........more

‘Women’s bill only after
consultation with all parties’

SAGAR, Oct 4: The Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Sumitra Mahajan has said the bill on providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and State Assemblies would be presented only after consultations with all political parties.......more

India, Russia sign wide
ranging defence pacts

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: India and Russia today signed a wide-ranging protocol to set up Inter-Governmental Commission....more

L K Advani

Advani writes to Swamy
on death sentence

CHENNAI, Oct 4: Union Home Minister L K Advani has said that there was no ruling that the death sentence.....more

Atal Behari Vajpayee

PM expresses concern
over spread of nukes

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today expressed concern......more

M Karunanidhi

Planes returning
to base: TN CM writes
to Sharad Yadav

CHENNAI, Oct 4: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today wrote to Union Civil Aviation Minister ......more

Fake encounter
NHRC asks UP to pay Rs
16 lakh as compensation

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed.....more

‘Sunam victory
vindicate SAD policies’

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4: Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh .....more

British exports to India are up
Reforms process in India ‘somewhat zig-zig’: UK envoy

From B L Kak

In a media interview, Sir Rob put it: "In the end it has to be a collective effort to make people agree with it right through the system, and I agree that this is the biggest difficulty of all in the management of any change in any organisation, however big or small".

On the Indian experience with reforms, the British High Commissioner has been reported to have pointed out that a lot had happened in the past decade compared with the previous 40 years. He, however, insisted that "a lot more is needed now" and that there was, indeed, a consensus in this direction. But there were so many vested interests and old habits of behaviour as well that it meant, inevitably, that the reforms process was "somewhat zig-zag".

On the state of the Indo-British partnership, Sir Rob Young was quoted as saying: "It is a child of the beginning of the liberalisation process". His view: "It could not have happened without the opening up of India to the outside world, commercially speaking". And as he saw it, it had been, he said, a "success" though with one caveat-"it is always difficult to be sure to what extent Government action is responsible for promoting particular bits of trade, particular contracts, particular improvements in exports or imports, and what would have happened anyway because firms are taking advantage of the changed and improved situation".

The British High Commissioner said in reply to a question that the ground reality was that since the Indo-British partnership was formed in 1993, trade between the two countries had doubled. The number of joint ventures approved, he pointed out, had been more than 1,200. The trade figures were at the record levels at the end of 1996-that is, 3.5 billion pound sterling. However, the "economic downturn" in Indian in 1997, 1998 and indeed in 1999 led to a quite significant drop in that figure.

Now, the "good news", according to the British High Commissioner, is that the trade figure has climbed up again. British exports to India in the first 7 months of 2000 are up 45 per cent, compared to the same period’s figure in 1999. Indian exports to the UK in the same period have climbed by 21 per cent.

His assessment: If the trend was maintained for the rest of the current year, "2000 will see a bigger figure for two-way trade than even the record year of 1996". And he has calculated that if the invisible trade was included (roughly at more than a billion pounds sterling a year), "we could be on target to reach the total of 5 billion pounds sterling two-way trade, visible and invisible, which was set by the two Prime Ministers in 1993 as the target for 2000".

According to Sir Rob Young, the share of Britain in India’s overall trade, at the moment, is about 6.7 per cent. Significantly, this is higher than Britain’s share of trade vis-à-vis any other country. Describing the experience with joint ventures as a "mixed bag", he has pointed out that of the 1,200 approvals since 1993, only about 25 per cent has translated into actual investments, which is the proportion applicable to all FDI.

Sir Rob Young also pointed out that if one extracted from the figures the "big- number items" such as the fasttrack power projects, then the approvals rate for British joint ventures would come to about 30 per cent, "which is better than the average for India as a whole". He, however, let it be known that still it was not good enough, and it showed there were "administrative, bureaucratic and other hurdles to overcome in setting up investments in India".

According to him, there is a lot of potential. But, he insists, a lot of firms "have this perception that India is a difficult market to get into, even though they accept that once you are in, the returns are good". He said that he could not think of a single British firm which could say: "We have been in India for 10 years and we have not got anywhere".

He was asked how Britain fared in the IT sector, particularly vis-à-vis the US. His reply: "Certainly, India had put a lot of eggs into the US basket over the last nine to 10 years and understandably because the US IT industry is huge and extremely dynamic, extremely innovative, and it is not surprising that it has been a magnet for Indian firms and individuals".

Britain, according to him, is manifestly the best place to locate if the European market is to be serviced in the coming years. Britain, he pointed out, had the the largest and fastest growing IT industry in Europe. He said that there were as many as 70,000 IT firms in the UK and it was "quite interesting that, over the last three to four years, of the 120 or so new Indian investments in Britain-whether takeovers, mergers, start-ups whatever-60 have been in the IT sector".

India, Russia sign wide ranging defence pacts

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: India and Russia today signed a wide-ranging protocol to set up Inter-Governmental Commission on Defence and Technical Cooperation and a number of defence agreements for purchase of aircraft carrier Admiral Groshkov, Frontline T-90 tanks and licensed production in India of SU-30 MKI jet fighters.

The protocol and agreements were signed by the visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister I I Klebanov and Defence Minister George Fernandes at south block in the presence of top ranking defence and military officials from both sides. The two sides also signed Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This MoU was signed by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Klebanov and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Brajesh Mishra.

Though defence officials were tightlipped about the number of T-90’s — the most advanced Russian battletank —being purchased, highly placed sources said that a total of about 320 T-90 tanks would be inducted with 150 of them being purchased outright and the rest being assembled in India under licence.

The sources said that the deal could be worth more than 450 million US dollars with the first of these tanks arriving in the country in the next few months.

The agreement for the purchase of the tanks and its subsequent licensed production in India was signed by Ranjit Issar, Joint Secretary in the Defence Ministry and Deputy Director of State Corporation of Uralvagonzavod, the manufacturers of the armament system.

Defence officials said the agreement for supply of heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Groshkov signed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister I I Klebanov and Defence Minister George Fernandes was a "broad framework" with details and costs to be worked out.

However, top naval officials said that Moscow after getting the nod from New Delhi had agreed to complete the refitting of the aircraft carrier for delivery within 28 months.

Officials said that naval crew and personnel would be sent to Russia for training on the 30,000 tonne warship within 12 months.

Klebanov and Fernandes also signed an agreement for transfer of licence and technology for building the latest updated version of the SU-30MKI at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

India, under the new agreement would be manufacturing 150 SU-30MKI.

After signing the agreements, Defence Ministry officials described the setting up of ministerial level joint commission as the "vehicle to give impetus to the strategic agreement concluded between the two countries yesterday".

Defence sources said a new deal for assembling of SU-30 MKI version at HAL, Bangalore, would also include Russia and India becoming partners in developing avionics for latest version of the Sukhois.

India and Russia had signed a deal worth more than 1.4 billion US dollars in November 1996 for purchase of 50 various versions of Sukhoi for the IAF. New Delhi has already received 18 of these jet fighters.

Setting up of the Inter-Governmental Commission could also speed up acquisition of the S-300 anti missile shield and the deadly smerch multiple rocket launchers by India.

Officials said the smerch system would only be inducted after intensive trials in snow, desert and target trials.

According to officials, the setting up of the Commission would ensure that Indo-Russian defence ties were not restricted to purchase by New Delhi but enlarge their scope for exploring possibilites of Moscow’s investment in Indian defence industries and in joint marketing.

The proposed commission will have two working groups —one co-chaired by the Defence Secretary T R Prasad and his Russian counterpart and the other by secretary defence production and his counterpart. (PTI)

Advani writes to Swamy on death sentence

CHENNAI, Oct 4: Union Home Minister L K Advani has said that there was no ruling that the death sentence of a prisoner would automatically stand commuted to life imprisonment if the state failed to execute the sentence within a year.

In a letter to the Janata Party president Dr Subramanian Swamy, a copy of which was released to the press, Advani said the Centre was considering the mercy petitions of Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan, who were awarded death sentences in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Swamy told reporters that Advani had also informed him that death sentence of Nalini, another accused in the Rajiv case, had not yet been commuted.

Swamy demanded a ban on Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and claimed the Jain Commission had stated that some members or sympathisers of DK were found to be involved in Rajiv assassination ‘in one way or the other’.

Swamy wanted commando operation to rescue Kannada actor Rajkumar and two others, held hostage by fugitive Veerappan. (PTI)

PM expresses concern over spread of nukes

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today expressed concern over continuous proliferation of nuclear weapons and missiles in "our region" and said close Indo-Russian understanding was essential to peace and stability in Asia and the world.

Addressing a special meeting of both Houses of Parliament, organised in honour of the visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister said that India desired friendly relations with its neighbours based on mutual respect and civilised norms of behaviour and "we intend to pursue this approach.

"Along with the well-being of our people, we seek peace and security in our region and the world over," PM said the two countries shared common concerns and interests. The Prime minister said, "the history of the last five decades demonstrates that close Indo-Russian understanding is essential to peace and stability in Asia and the world.

"This is what makes India and Russia strategic partners. Our friendship is not based on short-term calculations, but transcends the twists and turns of history and politics," Vajpayee said.

Asserting that India remained committed to the creation of a nuclear weapons free world, Vajpayee said that the country had consistently striven for global disarmament and had been in the forefront of all international efforts in this direction.

One of the major challenges which India in this region had faced over a decade was the menace of international terrorism, religious extremism, drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and separatism, Vajpayee said.

Asking the international community to resolve to overcome these challenges through concerted efforts, Vajpayee cautioned, "these dangers do not recognise any borders and affect all. Terrorism cannot be allowed to become an instrument of state policy."

Expressing concern over the continuous proliferation of nuclear weapons and missiles in the region, the Prime Minister said, "we have given formal shape to our relations by signing the declaration on strategic partnership between India and the russian federation. This declaration will guide us in further developing our cooperation.

"Your historic visit to India will help in the further cementing of these bonds," he said, adding that it was of significance that the views of the two countries overlapped and intersected on a wide range of international issues.

Vajpayee said that he was confident that the strength of Indo-Russian relations would prevail in creating a new world order which fostered international peace, security and stability.

In this regard, the reform of the United Nations system became vital, Vajpayee said and welcomed Russia’s continued support to India’s candidature for permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council.

Vajpayee told the Russian President that India had embarked on an ambitious economic reform programme and it had achieved "some success" in its efforts at building a modern economy while ensuring distributive justice.

"We are confident that your first visit to india will open a new chapter in Indo-Russian relations. We see in you a good friend of India and hold you in high esteem," he added.

Welcoming Putin, Vice President Krishan Kant said that the two countries faced a far greater danger, of international terrorism, "a pernicious one, which casts its deadly shadow, on all that we cherish as good, sublime and noble".

"Both our countries have suffered the destructive trepidations of this ferocious phenomenon, which wears several garbs, now religious, now ethnic, now regional and, often times, all of it", Kant said.

Humanity’s dream of a peaceful world would scarcely be realised unless it remained steadfastly uncompromising in its antipathies as well - "antipathy for subverters of democracy and for the practitioners of terror as a state policy and extension of faith", the Vice President said.

Stating that India watched with growing admiration Putin’s stewardship and statesmanlike role in shaping world events, he said Moscow could count on New Delhi’s support and "together we can influence the pace and the direction of the forces that are, so inexorably, shaping our lives".

Asserting that Putin’s visit and his address in Parliament would mark the "beginning of a new era in the history of our time tested excellent bilateral relations", Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi said that the two countries were committed to the cause of world peace and a democratic and just global order.

"Our views on a majority of regional and global issues including the menace of global terrorism are similar," he said.

Stating that New Delhi noted with admiration Moscow’s transition to a new democratic system based on free elections, free press and constitutional governance, Balayogi said that both countries should also strive to add a strong Parliamentary dimension to the relationship.

Parliamentary interactions not only fostered goodwill between Parliaments but also provided informal channels of diplomacy through people’s representatives, he said. (PTI)

Planes returning to base: TN CM writes to Sharad Yadav

CHENNAI, Oct 4: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today wrote to Union Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav expressing concern over the repeated incidents of aircraft returning to base at Chennai airport after take-off.

In his letter, Karunanidhi asked Yadav to advise Indian Airlines and its subsidiary, Alliance Air, to tone up their maintenance and services so that such incidents did not recur.

He said the three incidents, involving IA and Alliance Air aircraft that took off from Chennai for various destinations, in less than 10 days had caused considerable anxiety among passengers.

An IA A-300 bound for New Delhi returned to the airport shortly after take-off last night because of a ‘hydraulic problem’.

The aircraft involved was the same one that made an emergency landing on Sept 26 after it took off for Singapore and developed a technical snag while negotiating an air pocket and suffering from heavy turbulence in the process. Eleven passengers were injured.

On October 1, an alliance air boeing bound for Port Blair made an emergency landing after its pilot suspected that one of its tyres was missing. (PTI)

Fake encounter
NHRC asks UP to pay Rs 16 lakh as compensation

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Uttar Pradesh Government to pay Rs 16 lakh to the family members of the four victims, killed during a "fake encounter" with the state police.

The incident was brought to the notice of NHRC by one Panna Lal, who complained that his son and three others had been killed in a "fake encounter".

In response to the Commission’s directive, a report from the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the region said that four criminals were killed in an encounter between the police and a gang of criminals.

"Police had acted on the basis of a secret information that one Dhananjay Singh, a dreaded criminal carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, would commit dacoity at a petrol pump on Bhadoi Mirzapur road. The police posted three teams on the spot and at about 11.30 am found three persons coming towards the petrol pump who on seeing the police fled and under the cover of the bushes started firing at the police."

"The police returned fire and after 15 minutes when a search was conducted four persons were found lying dead. One of the dead persons was identified as Dhananjay Singh, the dreaded criminal and the complainant’s son was among the other three," the report by the area SP said.

"The Commission found the report of the SP unconvincing and directed its own investigation team to look into the incident. The Commission’s Director General (Investigation), on consideration of the report submitted by the Commission’s investigation team opined this to be a case of fake encounter," the NHRC said.

A subsequent report from the SP informed that a magisterial inquiry was being conducted under the orders of the District Magistrate of the area.

He also informed that the matter had also been entrusted to the State Crime Branch, CID and pursuant to investigation of the same, a case has been registered for 36 accused persons including 34 police officials and further investigation of the case was in progress.

"Material collected by the CD, CID clearly brought out the fact that the aforesaid encounter was entirely fake and that in fact four innocent persons had been brutally killed by the police after taking them out from a hotel in Bhadoi," NHRC said.

"There was involvement of one DSP, one Inspector, seven Sub-Inspectors and a number of police constables. Further, the casses of Arms Act registered against the deceased were found to be false. The State Government has proposed to file a final and cancellation report in these cases," the Commission said.

Since the state authorities had already initiated appropriate action, NHRC did not consider it necessary to make any further directions in this behalf, however in the context of providing ‘immediate interim relief’ to the families of the four victims, it directed UP Government to pay Rs 4 lakh each. (PTI)

‘Sunam victory vindicate SAD policies’

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4: Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Parkash Singh Badal today claimed that the victory of the SAD-BJP candidate in the Sunam Assembly bypoll has vindicated the policies of the ruling coalition in the state.

"Our fight was with the third Shiromani Akali Dal here no SHSAD and the Congress and we were successful in snatching the Sunam seat from the Congress," he said.

Mr Badal thanked the voters of Sunam constituency and the workers of both, the Akali Dal and BJP, for the victory of SAD-BJP combine candidate Parminder Singh Dhindsa, son of Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, in the September 29 bypoll.

Meanwhile, SHSAD president Gurcharam Singh Tohra has alleged that the ruling Akali Dal candidate had won in Sunam through "rigging" and demanded repolling under the "strict supervision" of a central team of the Election Commission through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The SHSAD, along with its twelve allies who supported the party candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra, would soon meet the Election Commission in New Delhi to appeal for repoll, Mr Tohra said.

He claimed that 26 tampered evms had been recovered from the fields a day before the polling.

Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal of the Congress had expressed "serious concern" over her party’s defeat in the Sunam bypoll. "There is a need for introspection and the matter would soon be discussed at a meeting expectedly to be convened by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh," she told UNI. (UNI)