Excelsior... Nation

Defence Minister Jaswant Singh

Prithvi missiles
being inducted
into IAF: Singh

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Prithvi missiles are being inducted into the Indian Air Force, Defence Minister Jaswant ........more

Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar

Kashmir issue remains
a threat to peace in
South Asia: Sattar

BEIJING, Apr 18: Regretting that India has not responded to Islamabad’s offer for holding talks, Pakistani.......more

Govt gathering data
on terrorists groups

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that it was collecting information on .....more

"Erotic" book on
Ramakrishna raises
dust in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Away from the humdrum and rough and tumble of politics, the unlikely topic of .........more

Shoot-at-sight orders
issued in Bihar

PATNA, Apr 18: The Bihar Government has issued shoot-at-sight orders to frustrate attempts of booth............more

Satellite telemetery to
track sea turtle migration

BHUBANESWAR, Apr 18: Researchers are using satellite telemetry for the first time hoping to crack the..........more

Attempts at saffornisation of education
Secular constituents of
NDA urged to restrain Govt

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Taking strong notice of the Vajpayee Government’s alleged attempts at saffornisation.......more

Forum is ‘political
safety net’ for
some TMC men

CHENNAI, Apr 18: The recently floated TMC Democratic Forum was emerging as a ‘political safety net’ to ....more

Prithvi missiles being inducted into IAF: Singh

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Prithvi missiles are being inducted into the Indian Air Force, Defence Minister Jaswant Singh said today.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, he said during 2000-2001, eight successful flight tests of missiles had been conducted which include one test each of Prithvi and Agni-II and two each of Trishul, Akash and Nag.

In the context of the tests by India, Pakistan test fired the SM-39 missile at a de-commissioned Pakistani ship in March this year, the minister said in another written reply.

Flight operations: A technology demonstration system which will demonstrate higher accuracies required for final approach and landing stages of an aircraft is in the final stages of Government approval, Minister of State in the Department of Space Vasundhara Raje told the house.

On successful completion of the system, a full operational capability system will be implemented, she said.

VRS Army: There is no proposal to introduce the voluntary retirement scheme for armed forces personnel, Mr Jaswant Singh said.

Procurement Board: Mr Singh said the procurement board, recommended by the Group of Ministers, will undertake the entire gamut of procurement functions in a more professional and cost effective manner.

To bring transparency in defence deals, the minister said besides mandatory and time bound scrutiny of all deals exceeding Rs 75 crore, all contracts above Rs 2 crore were being sent to the Central Vigilance Commission regularly on a quarterly basis.

Aircraft: The minister admitted that the Indian Air Force willface depletion of certain type of aircraft due to obsolescence in a matter of a few years.

The IAF had formulated a modernisation plan to enhance its combat aircraft strength and suggestions made in the Indian Defence Review (IDR) had been taken into consideration. (UNI)

Kashmir issue remains a threat to peace in
South Asia: Sattar

BEIJING, Apr 18: Regretting that India has not responded to Islamabad’s offer for holding talks, Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar has said that the lingering Kashmir problem remained a threat to peace in South Asia.

The Kashmir issue has "hung fire for 54 years and triggered wars and remains a threat to peace," in the region, he said addressing leading Chinese scholars on `evolving geo-political situation in South Asia,’ here yesterday.

"Pakistan has been ready for purposeful dialogue at any level, any time, any place," with India, he said and regretted that New Delhi had not yet responded to Islamabad’s proposal submitted four months ago.

"Over four months have passed and we are yet to receive a response," he told the Chinese audience which included the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Lt. Gen. Xiong Guangkai. Calling for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, which UN Secretary General Kofi Annan recently described as having lost their relevance and contextuality, Sattar said it was time to abandon the road of force in favour of a path of peace.

He pointed out that the UN charter and principles of peaceful co-existence provide an efficient and effective framework for a just and lasting peace all over the world.

"Unfortunately, these principles have not been followed by all in South Asia. As a result, the region has suffered from chronic tension, undermining possibilities of harmony and cooperation," he said in an obvious reference to India.

"Pakistan harbours no animus or ill-will against any country. We do not nourish any design of domination nor hanker after great power status," he said.

Sattar said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) holds promise of making a significant contribution to the welfare of 1,300 million people of the region.

"The Association has however been prevented from holding normal meeting since 1999. Such a unilateralist attitude cannot be considered a good augury for SAARC’s future," he said with regard to India’s reluctance to share the same podium with Pakistan.

Referring to nuclear issue, he said, Islamabad had historically supported multilateral efforts for reduction and eventual elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

"Our decision to acquire nuclear capability was necessitated by security imperatives illustrated by the traumatic experience of 1971," he said. (PTI)

Govt gathering data on terrorists groups

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that it was collecting information on reports that terrorist groups operating in the country were clandestinely investing funds abroad.

Minister of State for Home I D Swami told the House in a written reply that this information when collected would be in the House.

On reports of leaders of the Narmada Bachao Andolan receiving foreign contributions, the minister said the matter was being looked into under the provisions of the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act.

Vidyasagar Rao, the second Minister of State for Home, said Government was considering certain changes in the law governing the receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions received by voluntary organisations to remove short comings noticed in the present law.

Rao said at present it was not possible to give a time frame for bringing in the new act.

On the proposal to repeal the illegal migrants (determination tribunals) IMDT Act, the minister said it was still under consideration.

He said the Government was of the view that the IMDT Act in its application to the state of Assam alone was discriminatory and that certain provisions of the Act could be violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

Swami also told the house that Government was investigating how recent rumours about burning of pages of the Holy Quran were circulated which had led to widespread communal riots in various parts of the country.

Rao stoutly denied reports of Government agencies undertaking tapping of telephones and mobiles.

The minister also said that Darjeeling Hill Council Chairman Subhash Ghising’s security had now been upgraded to the "Z-special category". (AGENCIES)

"Erotic" book on Ramakrishna raises dust in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Away from the humdrum and rough and tumble of politics, the unlikely topic of erotica had members shaking their head in awe in Rajya Sabha today.

Days of turmoil and uproar gave way to a brief diversion during question hour when C Narayana Reddy (TDP) objected to circulation of two controversial books on Ramakrishna Paramhansa and sought its ban.

‘Kali’s child: The mystical and the erotic in life and teachings of Ramakrishna’ and ‘Ramakrishna revisited: a new biography’ were sought to be removed from the Parliament library besides getting them deleted from the encyclopaedia Britannica by Reddy.

Quoting a few passages from the books, Reddy said it was quite derogatory to Ramakrishna.

"Understanding his words required what might be called erotic hermeneutics," he said quoting a passage. The member quoted another passage that said `Ramakrishna’s love was just such an erotic love’ and sensing Shabana Azmi (nominated) who was seated near him, had said something, he said `I underline Madam, erotic love’.

"What is wrong in it," Azmi asked for which Reddy retorted "I am hearing nothing wrong, according to you, but for people like us ... Because she is my neighbour I must hear her."

Completing the passage quoted in one of the books, Reddy said "Ramakrishna’s love was not just an erotic love. At once it was sexual, assexual and mystical love."

"So what, erotic love," Azmi said amidst peals of laughter in the house. (PTI)

Shoot-at-sight orders issued in Bihar

PATNA, Apr 18: The Bihar Government has issued shoot-at-sight orders to frustrate attempts of booth-grabbers and other anti-social elements during tomorrow’s third phase panchayat election in the state.

The first two phases of the panchayat election was marked by large scale violence, claiming at least 41 lives.

State Director General of Police R R Prasad said here today that security forces had showed utmost patience in the first two phases. However, this time the police would not spare anyone, who indulged in any. He said the police would open fire on anybody, who was noticed creating trouble within a radius of 100 metre of any polling booth during voting.

He said all Inspectors General of Police and Police Superintendents had been directed to ensure effective action against the culprits during the third phase election. He said candidates had also been advised to keep close watch on anti-social elements in their respective areas and inform authorities accordingly.

The state police chief said poll preparation was reviewed in a high level meeting, attended by senior administrative and police officers in the state capital yesterday for conducting the third phase elections at 21,657 polling booths in 1,569 panchayats peacefully.

He said strong action would be taken against those polling personnel, who failed to check booth capturing and disturbance at their places of deputation, adding police would be deployed at polling booths in adequate number and sniffer dogs had already been pressed into service in the extremist-dominated area.

A Samastipur report quoting District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Rakesh said Bihar Military Police (BMP) jawans, led by Police Superintendent Paresh Saxena, flagmared under Mourwa, Tajpur, Pusa and Samastipur blocks in the district today for instillig confidence among voters.

Mr Rakesh said borders with neighouring districts of Vaishali and Muzaffarpur had been sealed and vehicles entering into the districts were being frisked thoroughly.

He said over 3.31 lakh voters would exercise their franchise at 982 polling booths in 73 panchayats during the third phase.

Adequate security arrangements had been made at all polling booths. (UNI)

Satellite telemetery to track sea turtle migration

BHUBANESWAR, Apr 18: Researchers are using satellite telemetry for the first time hoping to crack the mystery of the migration pattern of the endangered olive ridley sea turtles.

A female turtle fitted with the satellite telemetry was released to the sea last night from the Devi river mouth on the Orissa coast in the presence of United States-based turtle expert Dr Jack Frazier.

Millions of these turtles flock to the Orissa coast for mass nesting every year between October and May. Evidence from tag returns and observations by the Indian Coast Guard, show them taking a northerly course through the coastal waters off Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh prior to arrival in Orissa.

However, little is known about their post-nesting movements. Hitherto, the only available information has been that the turtles seem to spend a great deal of time in the high seas in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The species nest along the entire coast of Indian subcontinent from Pakistan to Bangladesh.

Satellite telemetry would help track the long range migration and foraging areas.

These special tracking devices were fitted to four female olive ridleys near the Devi river mouth, emerging as another nesting ground for the marine turtles, yesterday under a Government of India-United Nation Development Programme sea turtle project with the active collaboration of Wildlife Wing of the Orissa Government and the Wildlife Institute of India.

The first female to be released was named "Chandra". The remaining three turtles would be released later today, official sources said.

They said whenever the turtle surfaced the attached transmitter would send signals to a weather satellite. The data would be downloaded by a french company, argos, which would pass it on to the researchers. It would subsequently be used to prepare a map tracking the turtle’s path in the sea.

For decades the reserchers from various institutes all over the world have been studying the ancient sea turtles along the coast of India. So far attempts made in tracking down the turtles indicated that they migrate south after nesting.

Wildlife officials and researchers said it was necessary to trace their migratory routes to ensure an effective conservation programme to protect the turtles in their habitat.

The decision to use satellite telemetry was a follow-up action on the national workshop on sea turtle conservation held here on April 9-10. (UNI)

Attempts at saffornisation of education
Secular constituents of NDA urged to restrain Govt

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Taking strong notice of the Vajpayee Government’s alleged attempts at saffornisation of the education system, the Jammat-e-Islami Hind has urged the secular constituents of the National Democratic Alliance to restrain the Government.

In a resolution passed by its Central Advisory Council in a five-day session which concluded earlier this week, the Jammat said by giving a particular colour to the education system, the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to implement its hidden agenda.

It criticised the Human Resource Development Ministry for appointing Sangh Parivar people in high positions in the academic field.

In this context, the resolution cited the appointment of Mr B R Grover, a prominent personality of the sangh parivar, as chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). Similarly the appointment of Dr K G Rastogi in NCERT came in for criticism as the latter had allegedly boasted in his autobiography that he had shot dead a Muslim woman during the post-partition riots.

Other such steps, the resolution said, were attempts to impose Saraswati Vandana and Vande Matram in schools in Uttar Pradesh and the scheme of rewriting textbooks from a communal angle.

The Council also expressed its resentment over some provisions of the "national curriculum framework for school education" issued by ncert in November 2000. "The over-emphasis in the framework on ‘indiginous,’ ‘traditional’ and ‘civilisational’ components in education will lead to imparting a particular religious colour to the educational system."

The thrust on inclusion of Sanskrit, the Council said, was another such step. To impose Sanskrit, directly or indirectly, may be detrimental to the multi-cultural social fabric of the country, it added.

The Jammat-e-Islami also expressed reservations about the value education concept of the NCERT, saying it might easily degenerate into propagation of a particular religion if it was devoid of sincerity and if necessary measures were not taken.

The Council demanded that the syllabi and the prescribed reading material of value education should be finalised only after the consent of the authentic representatives of of various religious groups. For this purpose, it also demanded constitution of a committee representing various religious groups.

The recent decision of the University Grants Commission to give scientific status to ‘Jyotish Vigyan’ and ‘Vastu Shastra’ was also condmened by the Jammat. It is surprising that a number of universities are too eager to introduce these courses, ignoring their unscientific nature. The introduction of the such unauthentic disciplines will injure the prestige of the Indian universities, it said.

The session also passed a resolution deploring the recent incidents of desecration of holy Quran in Delhi, Patiala and Amritsar and alleged that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy to hurt the feelings of Muslims with a view to inciting them .

It demanded that those involved in the sacrilege be given exemplary punishment.

The Jamaat also asked the leaders of the Muslim community to remain on the alert and to take appropriate steps in this regard.

In another resolution, the Jammat demanded expeditious inquiry into the Tehelka allegations of corruption in defence deal. (UNI)