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Jaswant, George for Hurriyat leaders’ Pak visit From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Jan 13: The Minister for External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh, and the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, do not want the ‘hawks’ in Kashmir valley to get an upper hand. Hence, they have favoured a ‘smooth’ passage of the leaders of All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to Pakistan for talks on peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. Both Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr George Fernandes are counted among the most trusted men of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is directly handling Kashmir affairs. The third ‘most trusted’ man of Mr Vajpayee, namely, Mr Brajesh Mishra, who is known for his ‘indirect’ touch with a couple of Hurriyat leaders, has also favoured the demand for grant of passport facility to all the members of the Hurriyat Conference’s Pakistan-bound delegation. A source close to the External Affairs Minister told EXCELSIOR that Mr Jaswant Singh is of the view that there could be no better way to lionize pro-Pakistan leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, than to deny him a passport. The Defence Minister is said to be of the opinion that the Hurriyat delegation should be permitted to visit Pakistan, as by doing so the onus of progress of the peace process in Kashmir will rest on the Hurriyat Conference. Since the trio-Messrs Jaswant Singh, George Fernandes and Brajesh Mishra-continued to be the men of consequence for the Prime Minister’s scheme of things vis-à-vis Kashmir and Pakistan, Mr Vajpayee would, on present indications, support the moderates, whose argument in favour of giving passports to all five Hurriyat leaders for the proposed trip to Pakistan is that a refusal will act as a catalyst for hardening the anti-India attitude. Mr Jaswant Singh, who is scheduled to visit Germany from January 17, expects to field questions in that country with regard to Kashmir situation and India-Pak talks. Considerable importance is being attached to his forthcoming trip as he is going to officially inaugurate the new chancery of the Indian Embassy in Berlin. Hence, all the more reason for Mr Jaswant Singh to quietly build the case for a ‘smooth’ passage of the Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan so as to leave little space for any inconvenience to him during his visit to Germany. Meanwhile, India has rejected Pakistani military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf’s standpoint in support of a plebiscite in Kashmir. New Delhi, a top Government official told EXCELSIOR, cannot be expected to ignore the "provocative" statement of Gen Musharraf at a time when the Vajpayee Government appeared keen on restoration of peace and normalcy in Kashmir. The Pak military ruler has been quoted by the Asian Defence and Diplomacy journal as arguing in the course of an interview: "We believe that a resolution of the Kashmir dispute should be in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir as mandated by the relevant UN Security Council resolution". And official reaction of the Government of India: With the Shimla Agreement in existence to take care of the bilateral problems between India and Pakistan, UN resolution on Kashmir have no relevance, no meaning. The Government of India has also taken exception to Gen Musharraf’s ‘encouragement’ to the militants in Kashmir by his renewed assurance that Pakistan would continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the "freedom struggle of the Kashmiris". |
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Shanta Kumar warns against repetition of Dec 6 blunder NEW DELHI, Jan 13: Union Consumer Affairs Minister Shanta Kumar, virtually taking up the cudgels against the move of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Sangh Parivar hardliners to fix an early date for construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, today warned any hasty step could lead to ‘the repetition of December 6, 1992 blunder’. Repeating Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statement that the Ram Temple movement is the expression of national sentiment of the people, he said BJP had adopted the Palampur resolution in 1989 for the construction of the temple as a part of national commitment, not to encash it for the votes. Even today those who think that raking up of the temple issue will lead to more acceptability of the party among the people are mistaken. People will vote the bjp now for good governance, not for any emotive issue, they should understand it, Mr Kumar said, while referring to the VHP’s recent statement that ‘Dharam Sansad’ will announce the date for construction of the temple. He appealed to them they should help the Government in taking up issues like feeding the one-third of hungry population instead of adopting a ‘confrontationist’ posture. He felt that the BJP should also come out strongly against those talking about construction of the temple without waiting for the court verdict or consensus over the issue. He said Prime Minister had already conveyed in Parliament in inambiguous terms that there are just two options for resolving the issue either by the court ruling or through a consensus between the two communities. The Food Minister recalled that the movement built up from 1989 to December 5, 1992 was destroyed by one stroke by ‘unfortunate’ Ayodhya demolition and also made the party defensive on the issue. A hard-core RSS worker, Mr Kumar said he had raised the issue in the BJP national executive at Bhubaneswar at that time also and again in the recently held executive meeting in New Delhi. When asked why the BJP was not directing its member of Parliament Vinay Katiyar, not to hobnob with the VHP on the temple issue, the minister said in every big party there were always some dissenting voices. Mr Kumar attempted to link the temple issue with the Government’s gigantic task of feeding more than 300 million poor people suffering from hunger and malnutrition which should receive priority over all other issues. He said, "I am pained and feel guilty when millions of people go hungry every day when we have our foodgrain godowns overflowing." The Government had launched several schemes, including free foodgrains to the elderly poor people and a highly subsidised Antoyadya Anna Yojna for providing cheapest wheat and rice to the poor. The schemes were showing positive results and shall not be marred by any emotive step. (UNI) |
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Infiltration attempt
foiled Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Jan 13: Troops foiled an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) in general area of Nowshera sector last night killing a militant and forcing others to flee back to Pakistan. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene of encounter. Defence sources said late last night, a patrol party of army noticed movement in dense bushes in Kalalkas area along the LoC in Nowshera sector and challenged the intruders. The militants, suspected to be four-five in number, opened heavy firing on army patrol party, which retaliated. A fierce fighting ensued between army and militants which continued for more than one and a half hour. In the morning, troops conducted searches in the area and recovered dead body of a militant, who had been killed in the encounter. Other militants reportedly managed to escape back to Pakistan taking cover of grown up bushes and darkness. Slain militant was identified with the help of an identity card recovered from his possession as Khalil Ali, a Pakistani and a front ranking activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. Army didn’t suffer any casualty in the encounter. Recovery made from the spot included one AK-47 rifle, five AK magazines and 80 rounds, one Kenwood radio set, four hand grenades, four pouches and Indian currency worth Rs 10,000. Sources said the militants’ group was pushed into the Indian territory by Pakistan army to cause disturbances in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri during the forthcoming Panchayat elections and Republic Day celebrations. Infiltration of Pakistan-sponsored militants, which had declined last month following declaration of ‘maximum restraint on LoC’ by Gen Pervez Musharraf, has again intensified this month with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) trying to go all out to sabotage the election process in two districts in which they had completely failed so far. Meanwhile, in another incident, security forces recovered a consignment of explosive devices from village Kinari in adjoining Poonch district last night. Recovery was made from a make-shift hideout erected by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Kinari village. It included four UBGL grenades, six RPG rockets, two gelatin sticks and four explosive sticks. However, no arrest was made during the search operation as by then the militants had managed to escape. "Pakistan-sponsored militants are continuing their thrust to upset the peace process, which has been adequately highlighted by their attempts to infiltrate, target Indian security forces and eliminate civilian soft targets with a view to disrupt the Panchayat elections", a Defence spokesman said. |
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Medicos resume stir Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 13: Students agitating against the frequent power cuts and illegal admissions in Government Medical Colleges, were canecharged by police when they tried to barge into the GMC premises seeking a meeting with the College Principal. About a dozen students, including girls, received injuries in the lathicharge. Vice-president of GCW Parade Miss Divya Gupta got fractured her foot in the melee. The incident took place in front of GMC Jammu main gate when the protesting students, led by ABVP, attempted to force their entry into the college. After a scuffle between the agitators and policemen deployed there, the latter resorted to a mild lathicharge during which about a dozen agitators got injured. However, the tension was diffused shortly and the students were allowed to meet the acting Principal of GMC Jammu Dr Sheetal Singh. The agitators sought his clarification on the illegal admissions of unrecognised PRIME Medical College students in Government Medical College Jammu. Dr Singh reportedly said that the admissions had been made on the written order of State Government and the Medical College had nothing to do with the same. On this, the agitating students asked the acting Principal to also grant admission to the students of unrecognised ‘Farooq Abdullah Medical College’ in Government Medical College on the line of admission to PRIME Medical College. Earlier, students of GCW Parade, SRML Higher Secondary school, Government Girls Hr Sec School Mubarak Mandi, Hari Singh Hr Secondary School and some other educational institutions, boycotted their classes and assembled near the Parade Ground. Raising slogans against the National Conference Government and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, the agitating students led by ABVP marched towards Government Medical College Jammu. On reaching the GMC, the students held a massive demonstration in front of the college premises. They were demanding immediate cancellation of PRIME Medical College students’ illegal admissions in GMC Jammu and Srinagar. The agitators remained there for about two hours and disrupted traffic on the road. Later they tried to barge into the college premises after which a clash took place between students and policemen, deployed there. Sensing the trouble, the policemen resorted to a mild lathicharge on the protesters during which about one dozen students got injured. The injured included Divya Gupta, Nrotam Sharma, Parveen Singh, Vivek Raina, Lakhbir, Hemant etc. Students of GGM Science College, SPMR College, MAM College, SPMR College and GCW Parade, where the attendence was very thin, also boycotted their classes in protest against the illegal admissions in GMCs and erratic power supply but did not hold any demonstration. Meanwhile, after a lull of one week, Junior Doctors Association today resumed its stir against the illegal admissions of PRIME Medical College students and took out a protest demonstration in the city. They also submitted a memorandum to the Governor Mr Girish Chander Saxena and sought his intervention into the matter. Students of GMC Jammu boycotted their classes and shouting slogans against the illegal admissions, they took out a protest demonstration from the college to Raj Bhawan. These Medicos were demanding immediate cancellation of the admission of unrecognised PRIME Medical College students in GMC Jammu and Srinagar. It may be recalled that these Medicos had suspended their stir against the illegal admissions on first week of January. Reports from Poonch said that students boycotted their classes and took out demonstrations in protest against the frequent power cuts and illegal admissions in GMCs. They also extended their support to ABVP’s call for bandh on January 15 and appealed the business community of the town to co-operate in making the bandh complete and successful. In Nagrota, police resorted to lathicharge on the students who alongwith locals, were taking out a protest demonstration against the power cuts and illegal admissions in GMCs. Seven persons including students were injured in the incident. Meanwhile, according to a press release, All College Co-ordination Committee (ACCC) has reiterated not to intensify their stir till January 17. The decision was taken during an executive body meet of ACCC. However, they resolved to continue the boycott of classes. |
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Hurriyat awaits Govt
communication SRINAGAR, Jan 13: All Party Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat today said they were ready to accept "extension by a day or two" of the January 15 date, set for their team to leave for Pakistan for talks on Kashmir. Talking to UNI, Prof Bhat, the separatist alliance’s chief, said they were yet to receive a communication from the Government of India even after nominating a five-member delegation. The Hurriyat team comprises Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Moulvi Omar Farooq, Moulvi Abass Ansari, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Abdul Gani Lone. "We can understand that today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) being off days in the Government departments, the Centre can make available travel documents to the Hurriyat delegation only by Monday. Thus, it is acceptable that they (the delegation) can leave only next day (Tuesday) or any other day." He said though they had set January 15 as the date for travelling to Pakistan, "but when one is going to find a solution to a very big issue, such small things can be adjusted." Asked why he left himself out of the delgation, Prof Bhat said the APHC seven-member executive council had decided against sending the entire team. "The Council authorised me to nominate the delegation which I did, exercising powers vested in me," he added. Mr Bhat said there was absolutely no pressure from any quarter on them to include any particular member in the delegation. Asked whether he would visit Pakistan on a later date, he said "yes, I will. If all goes well, the Hurriyat leaders will have to travel extensively between New Delhi and Islamabad till a lasting and peaceful solution to this 50-year problem is found." He hoped that the Centre will take a positive decision and release travel documents for all the five members so that the peace intiative taken by India and Pakistan could be made more meaningful. In reply to a question, he said the delegation will not go to Pakistan in case India did not release travel documents for all the five. About the statement of Union Home Minister L K Advani that the Government would take an independent decision on giving passports, he said the Hurriyat has nominated its delegation and "now the ball is in the Centre’s court. They have to decide on it. "However, the Centre’s response should be positive if they sincerely want to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully," he added. When his attention was drawn towards the Panun Kashmir statement that a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits may visit Pakistan, Prof Bhat said their (Hurriyat) delegation represents, more effectively, the Kashmiri Pandits and the people of Jammu and Ladakh. Barring former chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq, no other Hurriyat leader has a passport. Mr Abdul Gani Lone was recently issued a country-specific passport to visit Pakistan to attend his son’s wedding with the daughter of Kashmiri separatist leader Amanullah Khan. The document is valid for three months only. Moulvi Abbas Ansari’s passport was impounded by the Government some time back. However, he along with Moulvi Omar were allowed by the Centre to visit Qatar to participate in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit, held in November last year. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Sheikh Abdul Aziz do not have any travel document. The APHC, a conglomerate of 23 political, religious, social and militant groups, has said its talks with the militant leaders and the Pakistan Government will have a positive impact on the peace initiative taken by India — by extending the ceasefire — and followed up by Islamabad — by ordering its forces to observe ‘maximum restrain’ along the LoC. Former chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq, part of the delegation, said the team going to Pakistan will discuss with the Government and militant leaders a joint strategy for the final settlement of the Kashmir issue. "Our desire and efforts would be to see that the stalled talks between India and Pakistan are resumed," he said. However, Geelani, also a former chairman, who is now in Delhi, said normalcy could return in Kashmir only when the issue is resolved with the approval of all the three parties — India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir. (UNI) |
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Students turn violent in
Samba Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 13: Students set ablaze telephone lines, subjected police to heavy stone pelting and blocked Jammu-Pathankote national highway for more than seven hours in their day long protests in Samba town today in protest against failure of power supply in Jammu region. Reports said a large number of students including females of different educational institutions of Samba tehsil marched to Samba town on the national highway at 1000 hours today and scattered on the road disrupting movement on the busy highway. Shouting slogans against Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and Power Minister Surjit Singh Slathia, the students burnt their effigies alleging that a ‘deliberate attempt’ was being made by the State Government to ensure failure of students by massive power cuts in the nights and early morning. Police and para-military, deployed in the town, tried to forcibly lift the students to clear the highway, where hundreds of vehicles were stranded on either side. The unsuccessful attempt of cops to lift them agitated the students, who started stone pelting. In the meantime, some SOG men lifted a student leader Arvind Singh Sethi who had damaged their jeep with stoning. This further irked the mob, which tried to set some telephone lines on fire. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu and senior police officers reached the spot and tried to persuade the students to lift their dharna. However, the crowd, which had swelled to hundreds, didn’t budge saying their career has been put to stake deliberately by Power Minister Surjit Singh Slathia, at the behest of National Conference leadership by enhancing power cuts. Shouting slogans like ‘Farooq Abdullah Hai Hai’, ‘Surjit Slathia Hai Hai’ and ‘Jammu Ke Gaddar Hai Hai’, the crowd also forced closure of many shops in the town. At about 1630 hours today, police unconditionally released the student leader Arvind Singh Sethi. Students then dispersed from the highway threatening to resume their agitation if power supply scenario was not improved immediately. Traffic on the highway was restored after about seven hours of blockade. Earlier in the morning, students of higher secondary school Samba including females and other educational institutions boycotted their classes and took out a procession shouting anti-Slathia slogans while reaching the highway. Police had to face a tough time in view of the presence of a large number of female students in the procession. |
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Muslim Auqaf Trust opposes
construction of Ram temple at disputed site Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 13: Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah has stressed on the need of blending religious and modern education to face the challenges of the 21st century. Addressing the General Council meeting of the J&K Muslim Auqaf Trust (MAT), the Chief Minister urged for introducing computer education in the Muslim Auqaf Trust’s educational institutions so that the students would compete and face challenges of the new millennium. Referring to the education programme launched by the Trust, Dr Abdullah underscored the need of blending religious and modern education. Expressing serious concern over the encroachment of MAT land, Dr Abdullah directed the Trustee to notify list of the encroachers and start their eviction. He said that reconstruction of the historic Khanqah adjacent to the Shrine of Sheikh-ul-Aalam at Chrar-i-Sharief, would be taken up during April this year. The Khanqah on the pattern of its original architect would be completed in four years and in the first instance Rs one crore would be released by the MAT shortly. Earlier, in its meeting which held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, the J&K Muslim Auqaf Trust (MAT) today warned against any construction of a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Meeting said that this move would vitiate the atmosphere and plunge the country into turmoil. A resolution was unanimously passed in the General Council meeting of the MAT with Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is also chairman of the MAT, in the chair. Resolution called upon the Central Government to stop Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) from implementing its agenda on temple construction at the disputed site. "No construction should be allowed at the disputed site until a decision by the Supreme Court or an agreement between the two communities", the resolution said adding that any such move would be resisted. Holding the then Union Government squarely responsible for the destruction of the 500 years old Babri mosque, the resolution said that the entire Muslim world has been emotionally attached to this issue. It said that the destruction of the mosque has tremendously hurt the sentiments of 180 million Muslims of the country who want the mosque to be rebuilt at its original site. The resolution urged the Centre to foil any attempt aimed at changing the status quo of the site. Reviewing the progress registered under construction programmes of shrines, the meeting was informed that the Charar-i-Sharief shrine would be completed by June this year with 12 crores expected to be expended on its construction. The meeting also discussed the budget estimates of the Trust. It was said that the income of MAT last year was Rs 7.04 crores against an expenditure of Rs 6.77 crores. This includes Rs 5.84 lakh financial assistance provided to destitutes and widows during the period. The meeting among others was attended by Vice-Chairman MAT, Mr Ghulam Nabi Kochak, Trustees, Mr A R Rather, Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar, Mr Sharief-ud-Din, Mufti Azam, Mufti Bashin-ud-Din and Dr Mohammed Tayub Kamili. The meeting observed two minutes silence in the memory of the Syed Ghulam Ahmad Kamili, Abdul Salam Dhar and Haji Mohammed Akbar Wani who passed away recently. |
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Sagar’s house
attacked Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 13: Militants attacked the house of Minister for Works Ali Mohammad Sagar here last evening with grenades, the second such attack on a Minister’s house in the State in the past three days. Sagar, a senior National Conference leader, was not at his ancestral house in downtown Srinagar at the time of the attack, official sources said here today. Pro-Pakistan Al-Umer-Mujahideen ultras hurled two grenades at the Minister’s residence at Nawab Bazar which exploded outside the house with a big bang but caused no loss of life or damage to property, the sources said. Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police personnel, deployed near the house, fired at the ultras forcing them to flee, the sources said. On January 10, militants attacked the house of Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmad Lone in Kupwara district seriously injuring two CRPF jawans. Meanwhile, troops of 21 Rashtriya Rifles and Kupwara police gunned down two militants in an operation lasting two days at Turakpura in Handwara area of Kupwara district. The operation started after a patrol party of army was fired upon by the militants. One of them was identified as Abu Sayad Mayam while the identity of his associate couldn’t be gathered. Both of them were foreign mercenaries, SSP Kupwara J P Singh said. Recovery made from the possession of slain militants included one Pika gun, one AL-47, four magazines and one I Com set. Commandant 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles supervised the operation. Militants made an abortive attempt on the life of a police officer and launched a grenade attack on a security bunker in Kashmir where a foreign militant was killed since last evening, an official spokesman said here today. The vehicle in which Deputy Superintendent of Police, associated with Special Operations Group (SOG), Vinay Kumar Gupta was travelling was damaged when militants detonated a land mine at Palhalan on Srinagar-Baramulla national highway in north Kashmir this morning. Gupta and his security guards escaped unhurt, he said. Ultras hurled grenade at a security bunker at Sarafkadal in interior Srinagar, he said. But it missed the intended target and exploded with a big bang near the bunker. No loss of life was reported. An Army Major Jeetender, a jonga operator and a rifleman were injured when their jonga was blasted with an IED by the militants in Srinagar. |
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CBI raids premises of ST officials, 2 arrested NEW DELHI, Jan 13: In a surprise swoop, the CBI raided the premises of eight sales tax officials last night and recovered huge amount of cash and documents pertaining to property worth crores of rupees. Agency sources said that two sales tax officials had been arrested and cases of disproportionate assests registered against six others in a designated court. In a late night operation, sleuths of Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) of the agency raided the premises of six Sales Tax Officers (STO) and two Assistant STOs and arrested R C Gupta and Saranjeet Singh (both STOs), they said. Those against whom cases had been registered are Aziz-Ud Din, Neera Talwar (all STOs) and S M Wadhwa and Sandeep Gulati (Assistant STOs), they said. None of the accused was available for comments. The sources said Rs 12.99 lakh in cash was recovered from Gupta, who owns two flats in the capital. The CBI also seized documents pertaining to his bank locker, which is yet to be opened. The total property of Gupta is put at Rs 49.24 lakh and that of Singh at Rs 15.59 lakh. The ACB sleuths recovered cash of Rs two lakh from the residence of Dutt, Rs 13.70 lakh from Sharma, Rs 7.4 lakh from Talwar, Rs 21,000 from Wadhwa and Rs one lakh from Gulati. The total amount of immoveable property was estimated to Rs 1.40 crore, they said. The CBI chargesheet alleged that the officials had amassed the wealth through corrupt practices. The agency was scrutinising the seized documents. (PTI) |
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PML urges military regime to take nation into confidence ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Pakistan Muslim League of deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif today urged the military regime to take the nation into confidence regarding its new policy of restraint by troops and their partial withdrawal from the LoC and support for talks between India and Kashmiri leadership without the participation of Islamabad. The demand was made in a resolution adopted at a meeting here of the PML Central Working Committee that discussed the prevailing situation in Kashmir and Afghanistan, says a PML statement. "There should be no reduction or a dilution in the full support of the internationally recognized right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people, which should be freely exercised in accordance with the UN resolutions, nor should be interest of Pakistan, as a major party of the Kashmir dispute, be compromised in any way," it said. The committee also condemned the "one sided and unjust" UN sanctions imposed on Afghanistan. The meeting observed that the sanctions will further aggravate the suffering of the poor people of Afghanistan, create resentment amongst the people of Pakistan and Iran, leading to deterioration of the security situation in the region. The committee reaffirmed full confidence in the leadership of Sharif, who is now in exile in Saudi Arabia, as the president of the party. The meeting also unanimously endorsed Sharif’s decision to nominate Raja Zafarul Haq as the chairman of the PML and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi as the acting president of the PML to run the affairs of the party during his absence. (PTI) |
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BALI (INDONESIA), Jan 13: The sudden disappearance of the sun just as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee offered prayers at the Tanah Lot temple of Lord Ahiva here made him recall the Mahabharata episode when Lord Krishna temporarily eclipsed the sun. "Badalo Ne Suraj Apne Pass Chhipa Liya Hai. Abhi Koi Krishna Hi Aa Kar Suraj Ko Badolon Se Mukti Dila Sakta Hai (the clouds have hidden the sun. Now only Lord Krishna can come and liberate the sun)", he remarked. He was apparently referring to the scene in Mahabharat where Lord Krishna "hid" the sun with his "Sudarshan Chakra" so that Arjuna could fulfil his vow of killing Jaidrath by sunset. Vajpayee had poured Ganga water into the Indian ocean in keeping with the belief that those who perform this ritual get the blessings of the Lord. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Omar Abdullah too performed a similar ritual while another Minister Ajit Kumar Panja enthralled the visitors to the temple with a Bengali song. The island has predominantly Hindu influence and its dance and drama draws heavily from Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. (PTI) |
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ED carries out searches at Shah’s premises MUMBAI, Jan 13: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials today carried out search operations at nine residential and office premises belonging to Bollywood financier Bharat Shah and producer of the film ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ Nasim Rizvi, here. A posse of around 40 ED officials in the presence of Crime Branch sleuths conducted the searches that began in the morning at 10.30 am and were likely to go on late into the night, ED sources told PTI. Search was also conducted at VIP enterprises, the film distribution office of Shah, sources said. Both Shah and Rizvi—arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for their alleged nexus with underworld—were currently in police custody. Officials carried out searches following taped conversation between Shah and underworld don Chota Shakeel, indicating transfer of money through hawala channels, sources said. However, Shah has denied the charge. Earlier, in a separate investigation, Income-Tax (IT) Department ‘surveyed’ various premises of Shah. The operation, which was launched yesterday was on till early hours of today. However, both ED and IT officials declined to comment, saying details of the searches would be known only after Monday. (PTI) |
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