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Major
successes by army, BSF Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Mar 21: Army, BSF and police today delivered a big blow to Pakistan-backed militants outfit by eliminating 14 dreaded militants of different outfits in three fierce encounter across Poonch and Rajouri districts. A Special Police Officer (SPO) was also killed and two other jawans including a Havildar were injured in one of the encounter. While nine militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit were gunned down by army at village Barachhar in Loran Mandi, three others were shot dead at Garang, Sabjian in Poonch. Two militants were killed in Rajouri. Official sources said troops of 17 Rashtriya Rifles and Poonch Police rushed to a remote and hilly village of Barachhar last evening after receiving a tip off that a big group of atleast 14 LeT militants was holding a ‘strategy session’ there. Army and police personnel surrounded a hideout of the militants, where they were holding a meeting, and asked them to surrender. Militants replied by opening heavy firing on security personnel, who retaliated. A heavy exchange of firing ensued which continued throughout the last night. By early today, troops succeeded in eliminating nine militants by blasting their hideout with heavy fire arms and rocket launchers. About five militants were reported to have escaped from the hideout before it was blasted and disappeared in an adjoining forest area. As already reported, one SPO Bagh Hussain was killed in the encounter initially. A police Havildar Mohd Yaqub and an army jawan were seriously injured. The wounded Havildar was today shifted to Medical College hospital of Jammu in critical condition. Bodies of a number of militants were burnt in the operation and were beyond recognition. All of them were, however, believed to be foreign mercenaries from Pakistan and Afghanistan and activists of Lashkar outfit. Sources said a large quantity of arms and ammunition have been recovered from the scene of encounter. Several weapons were either burnt or damaged inside the hideout. Troops continued searches in Barachhar and surrounding villages to apprehend the absconding militants. Till the reports last came in, the ultras hadn’t been traced. Elimination of nine hardcore foreign mercenaries in a single encounter has delivered a major set-back to Lashkar outfit in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Three militants were killed by army late tonight in an encounter at village Garang in Sabjian area of Poonch. The encounter was executed by Poonch Brigade with the help of BSF. So far, three AK-47 rifles, 3000 rounds and a wireless set have been recovered from the encounter site. Identity of slain ultras couldn’t be established in view of darkness. Operation will be resumed tomorrow morning, the sources said, adding no casualty was reported on army side. Meanwhile, army eliminated two militants in Manjakote and outskirts of Rajouri town this afternoon. Defence sources said one militant was killed in retaliatory firing by army in Gambhir Muglan forest area under jurisdiction of Manjakote police station. The encounter took place exactly in the same area where 16 cops were killed in an ambush by militants earlier this month. Identity of slain ultra hasn’t been established. From his possession, army recovered one AK-56 rifle and some ammunition. Another ultra was killed by troops in a village northwest of Rajouri this evening. Operation in the village was still on following reports about presence of some more militants in the area. A rifle and a wireless set was recovered from dead ultra. Meanwhile, people in the town today paid glowing tributes to two Sikh youths Mohan Singh and Lakhbir Singh, who were shot dead by militants in Surankote few days back, on the occasion of their 10th day anniversary. A large number of people attended the function organised at Ahata Singh Sabha Gurdwara. Labour Minister Harbans Singh, IGP Jammu Zone R V Raju and MLA Poonch G M Jan addressed the function. The Minister handed over a relief check of Rs one lakh each to the next of kins of deceased. He also promised employment to one dependent each of two youths. Others who spoke on the occasion included Haracharan Singh Bedi, Harnam Singh, Avtar Singh, Daljit Singh, Tarlok Singh, Manmeet Singh and Tara Singh among others. |
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CBI case against personal secretary to Sonia Gandhi NEW DELHI, Mar 21: In a significant development, the CBI has registered a case against Vincent George, personal secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, accusing him of amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income. The agency filed an FIR in the designated CBI court last evening, its spokesman S M Khan told reporters here. The case was registered against George under Section 13 (2) Read with 13 (I)(E) of Prevention of Corruption Act (Acquisition of Disproportionate Assests) during the period between November 1984 and December 1990 when George was functioning as a public servant in his capacity as personal secretary of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and later leader of the opposition. A preliminary enquiry was registered against George on March 2000 on the basis of "disclosures" made by former Deputy Director of Enforcement Directorate Ashok Aggarwal, agency sources said. Aggarwal, who was arrested by the CBI in December 1999, had alleged that he was closely associated with George and had used his political clout to further his career prospects, CBI sources said. Aggarawal had told its investigators that he used to help George in 1988 in filing the income tax returns and advised him on investment and property matters. Based on Aggarwal’s statement, the CBI traced some property which George had acquired in his name, or in his family member’s name or were benami, the sources said. The agency had registered a Source Information Report (SIR) against George on January 22, 2000 which was later converted into a preliminary enquiry on March 14, 2000. George and his wife Lilly George had been questioned by the special investigative unit of the agency at least half a dozen times since last year. The sources said George was likely to be questioned in due course in connection with the case. According to the FIR, the CBI investigations alleged that George and members of his family acquired moveable and immovable assests worth Rs 2.5 crore between November 1984 and December 1990. The FIR said it had also come to light that soon after he ceased to be a public servant, the acquisition of property and assets multiplied manifold. "There is also reason to believe that V George might have acquired other assets also either in his name or in the name of family members," it said. The FIR said it is revealed during enquiry that George could not explain the disproportionate assets found in his possession and in the name of his family members. Agency sources said George had even sent his chartered accountant to explain the assets but he failed to "convince" the agency. The facts prima facie conclude that a case against George should be initiated under PCA, the FIR concluded. (PTI) |
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Hurriyat not averse to talks with Centre NEW DELHI, Mar 21: Hurriyat Conference today said it would hold talks with the Centre on Kashmir issue only after having deliberations with militant outfits and the military regime in Pakistan. "The Centre should allow the Hurriyat delegation to undertake a visit to Pakistan and when we get back, we will hold talks with the Government too," Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat told PTI here. He said it was necessary for the Government to facilitate the visit of its delegation to Pakistan. Stating that though the Hurriyat Conference had demonstrated positive approach towards the Kashmir problem, Bhat said "the situation remains unchanged and many things seem to have run into problem." "I still believe that peace process could move forward as there is no escape either for Pakistan or for India or for that matter the Hurriyat Conference from entering into a dialogue," an optimistic Bhat said. He cautioned that some vested interests were indulging in delaying tactics on one pretext or the other and creating hurdles in the way of finding a solution to the vexed issue. "I hope and trust that we will be able to find a way out in the days to come to solve the issue," the Hurriyat chairman said. The Hurriyat Conference has been witnessing indiscipline in its ranks and files and its senior executive members have gone overboard and even said that Kashmir was a "religious issue and not a political one." However, the Hurriyat chairman says that he has been able to maintain discipline within the 23-party amalgam. Scotching all rumours that the conglomerate was heading for a vertical split, Bhat said "I dont think anyone of us can afford to break away...As far as the differences in regard to certain issues which sometimes lead to an impression that the forum might split." "But we have agreed on an ir-reduceable minimum programme and none of us is in a position to deviate from it," he said. Referring to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s statement that the world body would not interfere in the Kashmir issue and it was for both India and Pakistan to find solution to the issue under the letter and spirit of Lahore agreement, Bhat said "his statement has to be understood with reference to the words he used." "Annan asked both India and Pakistan to initiate talks with a view to seeking a permanent settlement of the problem. During the visit it seems that the Secretary General had chosen to adopt a reconciliatory and balanced approach and such approach does occasionally evoke criticism," Bhat said. "In my opinion what the people across the sub-continent feel and say (solve the Kashmir issue) coincides with the anxiety of the Secretary General of the UN," the Hurriyat chairman said. (PTI) |
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Vote on account approved NEW DELHI, Mar 21: Parliament today approved the crucial vote on account to meet Government expenditure beyond March 31 with Rajya Sabha returning the relevant money bills even as opposition continued to stall proceedings in both Houses for the seventh day over the corruption expose demanding Vajpayee Government’s resignation. The vote on account for general and railway budgets would enable the Government to draw from consolidated fund for payment of salaries and to meet other expenditure from April one onwards for three months. Unlike yesterday’s pandemonium in Lok Sabha when the vote on account was approved, it was a smooth affair in Rajya Sabha which also passed by voice vote appropriation bills for the last batch of supplementary demands for grants for the current year. Members were again up in arms as soon as the money bills were approved forcing adjournment of the House. In the Lok Sabha, the opposition led by Congress stormed the well chanting "Gali, Gali Mein Shor Hai, Yeh Sarkar Chor Hai" (there are shouts everywhere that Government is corrupt) while the ruling NDA members countered by accusing Congress of being corrupt. As the turmoil continued when the House met at noon after an hour-long adjournment, Speaker GMC Balayogi called it a day. As per constitutional requirement, the demands for grants on account of both general and railway budgets and the connected appropriation bills had to be passed by both Houses and assented to by the President by March 31. The vote on account for the general budget entails Government to withdraw up to Rs 1,19,411 crore while the one for railways enables withdrawal of Rs 11,802.72 crore. (PTI) |
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‘Lashkar’s dictate aimed at subjugating Kashmiris’ SRINAGAR, Mar 21: Army today said the Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashker-e-Toiba’s threat to Kashmiri people against working for army camps was aimed at subjugating the Kashmiris. "Exporting militancy and criminalisation of the peace loving Kashmiri society was the first part of their (militant’s) design and now issuing threats to the people to resign from their jobs is another step towards subjugation of the Kashmiri people," a Defence spokesman said here. He said the Lashkar dictate was aimed at further accentuating the economic misery of Kashmiris, the spokesman said while reacting to the outfit’s threat to contractors and suppliers of the Valley. Unemployment in Kashmir has become a grave problem and if the people who work as contractors were to stop the same, it would leave them without any means of income to sustain their families, he said. "The Indian army has always been committed to the security and economic development of the Valley. More than one sixth of the Valley is being benefitted directly or indirectly by the presence of the armed forces," the spokesman said adding army has been purchasing local goods to improve the economy of the State. Referring to the threat, the spokesman said this is not a new happening as these very people had issued similar threats to the policemen to resign from their jobs. "Will the people of Kashmir like their lives to be run by these gun-toting Pakistanis or be part of a civilized society," the spokesman asked counselling the people "not to fear from voicing their opinion against the repression perpetrated by these militants will go a long way in effecting the lives of your children." "Now is the time to rise and tell these militants to stop controlling your lives and make this Valley a real paradise for your future generations," he added. Meanwhile, the contractors and suppliers working for the Military Engineering Services (MES) have appealed to the militant outfit to reconsider its threat. "Lakhs of people are earning their livelihood while working for the MES and the threat would badly affect their families," the contractors said. Lashker-e-Toiba issued the threat to the contractors and suppliers last week asking them to stop working for the army. (PTI) |
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NEWS ANALYSIS From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Mar 21: While the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s gamble of the unilateral ceasefire is yet to work wonders at Washington and New York, by all indications so far it has miserably failed at home. Ever since Vajpayee’s announcement on November 18 last year, New Delhi’s socalled Kashmir experts were enthusiastic that the much-hyped peace initiative would not only draw a wedge between the Kashmiris-dominated Hizbul Mujahideen and the Pakistan-based pan-Islamist groups but the same would also trigger a rift between the "hardliners" and "moderates" in Hurriyat Conference. Neither of the objectives has been achieved during the last four months. Worse, the blame is on New Delhi that she allowed the armed forces to go wholehog on militants and even did not take a decision over petty matters like issuing passports for a Pakistan travel to the Hurriyat leaders. From day one of the ‘ceasefire’, it appeared—at least to a large section of Kashmir’s population —that it was New Delhi’s yet another treading on the beaten track. Vajpayee’s obscure explanation, last week, that the "other side" and not his Government was responsible for the stalemate, has convinced none. The status quo is likely to continue, particularly in the backdrop of the current political crisis stirred by the Tehelka tapes. It may take Vajpayee’s "Kashmir experts" a couple of months more to read the writing on the wall but every eye in the Valley is witness to the emergence of a strong pro-Pakistan atmosphere in the last few months. And once again, fear of the gun and not essentially commitment to political ideology, has been the driving force behind this phenomenon. The kind of liaison and cooperation of the masses with the Government, witnesses in 1996-99 period, is nowhere in sight today. Three hundred pro-India elements—mostly informers and local helpers of security forces, National Conference workers and social activists—have already been slain. Offensive against Police has been intensified. Number of Police personnel and men of security forces killed in militants’ pro-active attacks has already crossed 200. Never before had Jammu & Kashmir been harassed this way. While the militants seem to be confidant that their continued attacks would neutralise Police and destabilise the civil administration, "Kashmir experts" are still in a fools’ paradise that, like in Punjab, it would actually stimulate the Police force for action against the militant. Several officials have been highlighting it assiduously that since the Police has "begun to work first time", attacks on it are well expected. There are a many major differences between the pre-Ramazan and post-Ramzan period. Earlier, dozens of NC activists would come forward to occupy the position of a Block President killed by militants. Today, even those enjoying Police protection are buying peace with militants. At east 500 NC activists have already announced their resignation from the party through paid advertisements in the local newspapers during the last four months and this kind of fear and alienation had earlier been witnessed in 1989-90 only. In spite of a sustained anti-election campaign by Hurriyat and militants’ attacks, Government had smoothly conducted Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 1996-98. This time even the Panchayat elections have been a real farce in Kashmir. One has still to find a place in the plains of the Valley where people actually came out for polling. Authorities, on the other hand, have been trumpetting the "successful Panchayat elections" and one wonders who they are befooling. Pick up any morning newspaper and count how many men disassociate themselves from the process while claiming that someone else had filed their nomination papers. Not a single individual in Kashmir had begged for militants’ clemency this way in the four Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 1996-99. Rather than cultivating feud in local and foreign militant outfits, Vajpayee’s ceasefire has evidently closed ranks among all guerrilla organisations who are now clearly operating in total coordination. Insurgency had shrunk to barely eight small segments in 1997-98 and an overzealous divisional commander of Victor Force had even installed sign-boards in Anantnag-Shopian belt that "you are travelling in militancy-free zone". Today, militants are calling shots in every nook and corner of the Valley. Inspite of the fact that the Valley chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Abdul Majeed Dar’s persons appears to be lukewarm after the fiasco of his outfit’s ceasefire in August last year, his organisation has been carrying out and claiming dozens of major subversive acts. Reports indicate that militants have re-grouped and re-organised themselves in all parts of Valley. Three particular outfits, namely Al-Umar Mujahideen, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and J&K Islamic Front are currently establishing base in the capital city. However, the more significant failure of Vajpayee’s Kashmir strategists lies in the fact that New Delhi’s persona non grata Syed Ali Shah Geelani has not only emerged as the strongest leader in the entire separatist clan but all the militant outfits, including Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, have rallied behind him. Peoples’ pro-Pakistan slogans at several places —particularly those localities which have been traditionally under the influence of Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone and Mohammad Yaseen Malik—seem to have marginalised the so-called "moderates" in the Hurriyat. Geelani’s supporters have been yelling "Lashkar se nata kya, La illaha illalla" and "Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan" not only at the Hurriyat Headquarters but also at Jamia Masjid, Maisuma and other places. While Geelani has cornered his colleagues by raising the question ‘whether Kashmir is a political or Islamic issue’, he has successfully foiled the Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat’s move to replace the Jamaat-e-Islami’s representive in the amalgam. Bhat, supported by Mirwaiz, Lone and Malik, had initiated the process of Geelani’s ouster early this month but, in the face of recent developments, he stands humiliated and cut to size. Even as almost all militant outfits have come out with serious threats to the Hurriyat doves, Lashkar and other organisations have glorified Geelani as the greatest leader of Kashmir’s movement and enforced a shutdown in Valley when Police allegedly assaulted the Jamaat godfather. Whether men like Bhat, Lone and Mirwaiz succeed in isolating Geelani or not, the fact remains that he has not only cut to size all others in the Hurriyat but also isolated the moderates from the mainstream of Kashmir’s separatist movement. |
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NEW DELHI, Mar 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is going into nine major defence deals, including procurement of armaments like weapon locating radars, hand held directional finders and supply of smoke ammunition from South Africa for 155mm guns, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister Jaswant Singh told the House in a written reply that the CBI report on alleged irregularities on procurement of weapon locating radars had been submitted to the Central Vigilance Commission(CVC). On procurement of 36 hand held directional finders from a Japanese firm Ms Taiyo Musen Limited, Singh said CBI had not found substantiated charges of irregularities in the purchase of equipment for the Army. On supply of smoke ammunition for the 155 mm guns, the minister said CBI probe into the case was progressing as also in the case of import of ammunition from a Hong Kong based company Pitcare. The other cases in which CBI investigation was in progress related to irregularities in procurement of developed items and crucibles in the eastern naval command and cases of local purchases at naval supply depot at Port Blair, he added. Jaswant Singh said as far as the case of irregularities in procurment of crucibles was concerned, CBI was pursuing the case in a designated court in Vishakhapatnam. He said as a step towards avoiding such possibilities in the future, the Government in consultation with the CVC and Comptroller and Auditor General was going in for time-bound scrutiny of all purchases above Rs 75 crore by the CAG and where necessary by CVC. The minister said recently it had come to light that spare parts of the guns had been found missing at central ordnance depot, Jabalpur. He said preliminary investigation had revealed that ordnance stores weighing about 989 kgs and worth more than Rs 17.40 lakhs had been lost. A court of inquiry had been ordered into the issue, he added. The minister said a contract had recently been signed for procurement of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) for the Indian Air Force and negotiations were in progress for UAVs for naval use. He said unmanned aerial vehicles for the army were being inducted since 1996. (PTI) |
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Attack on IRP camp
repulsed Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Mar 21: A young housewife was killed in exchange of firing between militants and IRP jawans at village Mahakund in Mahore tehsil last night. IRP personnel repulsed militants’ attack on their camp after an hour long firing. According to official sources, a group of three to four militants attacked an IRP camp in Mahakund area last night. IRP jawans fired back. Exchange of firing that lasted one hour resulted into the killing of a housewife. Identified as Jatal Begum wife of Abdul Ghani Mughal, the woman sustained gun shots outside her house and died on the spot. Militants’ attack on the IRP camp was repulsed. A patrol party of Border Security Force (BSF) also rushed to the spot after hearing sound of gun shots and cordoned off the village. They started searches for the militants but latter had managed to disappear in an adjoining forest area. Searches, however, continued. Sources said while fleeing from the village, the ultras left behind some arms and ammunition, which were recovered by searching parties of BSF. They included one AK-56 rifles with three magazines and 60 rounds, one binocular, a radio set, two rifle grenades, one hand grenade and some Pakistani currency. Body of deceased woman was shifted to a local hospital where she was declared as dead. Her body was handed over to her family members today after post-mortem. Local people denounced killing of an innocent woman in militants’ firing. They also held a demonstration in the village shouting slogans against the militants. Sources said the attack on IRP camp was launched by local Hizbul Mujahideen militants, led by Alla Rakha. Rakha’s group was stated to be active in Mahore and was indulging in excesses on local villagers. |
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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Mar 21: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) quizzed Meenakshi for more than three and a half hour here last night and recorded her statement and sequence of events during her kidnapping and alleged gang rape. Official sources said Meenakshi was called to CBI camp at Dak Bungalow at 2000 hours. CBI sleuths recorded her detailed statement and quizzed her for three and a half hours. Meenakshi’s father Natha Singh had already been questioned by the officials of premier investigating agency. |
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Tehsil office stoned, bandh in Chenani Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Mar 21: A complete bandh was observed in Chenani today and mob stoned Tehsil office in protest against total failure of water supply for the last four days. Reports said the people were protesting against diversion of Shiv Dhar water supply from Chenani to Kud to give benefit to some hoteliers. Agitated people marched in the town and pelted stones on Tehsildar’s office to register their protest. Shops remained closed in Chenani town. People have threatened to intensify their agitation if water supply was not restored immediately. |
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BANGALORE, Mar 21: Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed when a MI-8 IAF helicopter crashed near Chikkajala in Bangalore rural district this evening. The trainee chopper crashed shortly after taking off from the Yelahanka air base on city’s outskirts and all the bodies were charred beyond recognition, Bangalore Rural District Superintendent of Police S Ramakrishna told PTI. Apart from Pilot Sqn Ldr A K Singh and Co-pilot Ft Lt Heblekar, the other victims were Warrant Officer Chavan, Flight Engineer, and Trainee Flight Engineers Reddy and Mishra, he said. The helicopter was reduced to smithereens. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, he said. Karnataka Additional Director General of Police (law and order) M D Singh said the helicopter crashed near Narayanapur railway tracks. Top police and district officials rushed to the crash site along with senior IAF officers. (PTI) |
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3 BSF jawans injured in grenade attack Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 21: Twelve people, including three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and equal number of State Police jawans were hurt when militants hurled a grenade on a patrol party in the city this afternoon, while’s a body of youth was fished out from river Jehlum in Baramulla district today. According to informed sources, militants this afternoon hurled a hand grenade towards a security force patrol party at Exhibition Crossing near here, injuring six civilians . Three jawans of BSF and equal number of State Police cops were also injured in this incident. However, the condition of all the injured persons is stated to be stable. Meanwhile, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen has owned the responsibility for this attack. Body of one Nazir Ahmad Lone, S/o Ghulam Qadir Lone was fished out from river Jehlum at Fatehgarh, Sheeri near Baramulla today. Nazir, who was missing for the past three days, is stated to be mentally deranged, the sources said. Two border security force personnel were injured when militants attacked a patrol party at Rampora in Kulgam of south Kashmir this morning. Meanwhile,Two militants surrendered along with their arms and ammunition in Kupwara while security forces averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused a powerful improvised explosive device planted by militants at Tappar on the National Highway this morning. |
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Tehelka team deposes before court of inquiry NEW DELHI, Mar 21: Mathew Samuel and Anirudh Bahal, the two-member investigative team which carried out tehelka.com’s sensational sting operation on bribes in Defence deals, today deposed under oath before the three-member high level army court of inquiry probing Defence officials’ conduct. The two spent over four-and-a-half hours before the court in two sessions deposing separately in the presence of all the accused army officers. Bahal later told PTI that during the deposition, the court had repeatedly played relevant portions from the tapes in the presence of officers from the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG)’s branch. Most of the accused officers including Maj Gen M S Ahluwalia, Additional Director General Ordnance Services, Maj Gen Satnam Singh and Col Anil Sehgal did not exercise their right to cross examine, Bahal said. However, Brig Iqbal Singh, prospective procurement officer, at the army headquarters did use his right and posed a question to the sting duo. The lone suspended officer Maj Gen P S K Chaudhary, Additional Director General Weapons and Equipment had used his right to cross examine during yesterday’s proceedings. The tehelka.com’s editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal had appeared before the court yesterday handing over four and half hours video footage and transcripts to the three-member team headed by Lt Gen S K Jain. (PTI) |
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PM rules out Brajesh Mishra’s resignation NEW DELHI, Mar 21: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today virtually ruled out seeking the resignation of his Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra in the wake of the Tehelka expose on corruption in defence deals saying he did not hold any public office. On the opposition demand for Mishra’s resignation, Vajpayee said "he (Mishra) does not hold public office." To another query if Mishra should not quit, he told reporters here after the investiture ceremony "Maine Aisa Nahin Kaha (I did not say so)." About reports whether Shiv Sena had demanded the resignation of Mishra and N K Singh, OSD in Prime Minister’s Office, Vajpayee said "they (Shiv Sena) did not tell us this. It is only in the media." Asked whether Government was planning to initiate talks with the opposition to break the deadlock in Parliament over the corruption expose, he told the reporter "we will consider your suggestion." Blaming the opposition for "creating a crisis", he said Government was prepared for a discussion in Parliament on the corruption issue. In an apparent reference to the resignations of George Fernandes and Bangaru Laxman, he said even though those named in the expose have resigned "no guilt has been proved." To a question on the proposed NDA rally in the capital on March 25 to counter the opposition tirade, he said "if they (opposition) do not allow us to talk inside Parliament then it will have to be outside." (PTI) |
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